Mutual glance to Paris and Istanbul in travel books of two travelers of the nineteenth century: Theophile Gautier and Hayrullah Efendi

WOS: 000472071500002When we search cultural conflict continuing for centuries between East and West, it is seen that geography and religion play a decisive role in this process. On the other hand, in spite of this conflictual conception, travel books appear as one of the concrete written sources in the process of recognizing and promoting the "Other". These works founded on observation, are considered as important sources that show the panorama of a historical period. In this context, through the evaluations made about travel books and western orientalist approach; we comparatively examined the works of Theophile Gautier entitled Constantinople and of Hayrullah Efendi entitled Avrupa Seyahatnamesi. It is indicated that travel books have undertaken a significant task especially untill XXth century about presentation of cultural life of the "Other". In addition, by comparatively explaining the most remarkable physical and cultural aspects of Istanbul through the eyes of a westerner and of Paris through the eyes of an easterner, it is examined whether the cultural conflict between two civilisations reverberates to discourses of the authors. As a consequence of the study, it has been realized that the stereotyped thoughts and images transferred to generations through the travel books are reflected in the works of both authors. Moreover, as a result of their observations, the writers express both positive and negative emotions and thoughts such as astonishment, admiration, criticism, prejudice and sublimation. This showed that the writers were not always influenced by these prejudices, and that the established perception can vary