‘Cultural superficiality’ one of biggest problems of our era: President Erdoğan

ISTANBUL

One of the biggest problems of the current era is “cultural superficiality,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said. 

“A culture and a civilization cannot be built by works that have no depth or permanence and are produced and consumed daily. We have to focus on permanent and long-term works,” Erdoğan said on March 3 at a meeting organized by Culture and Tourism Ministry at the Lütfi Kırdar International Congress and Exhibition Hall.

“How we greet people, how we sit down and stand up, what we wear, what we eat and drink and how we decorate our houses are all determined by our culture,” he also said, adding that culture is a “way of life that includes books, music and architecture.” 

Expressing concern that the world is “moving fast toward becoming a monoculture,” Erdoğan said this was a threat against all cultures. 

“This situation not only effects Turkish culture. It is a big threat against all cultures. Our generation is the last user and witness of the richness of local culture. The new generations are unfortunately left devoid of this richness and will continue to be so if things go on like this. We will be left in the claws of a cultural drought if we cannot understand the culture of a person walking in the streets of Istanbul from his clothes, shoes, hat and posture,” he added. 

The president also warned that if Turkey loses its culture then “it will be destroyed.” 

“If we lose our identity, character and individuality, we will get lost among the masses. That’s why we say, ‘One nation, one flag, one country, one state.’ These principles are the safety locks of our independence and future,” Erdoğan said.