"Screenscaping" the City: Reproduction of the Image of İstanbul in Online TV Series

Abstract

This article explores the portrayal of Istanbul’s urban image in TV series produced for online platforms, examining how these visual narratives influence public perception. By revisiting Kevin Lynch’s theories on urban imagery, the study analyzes four prominent TV series set in Istanbul: Persona (Şahsiyet), The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız), Ethos (Bir Başkadır), and The Gift (Atiye). Each series utilizes Lynch’s five urban elements path, edge, district, node, and landmark to craft unique visual narratives. Changing urban views and evolving tourism trends driven by digital platforms are transforming the city’s image. The study aimed to explore the city image by developing a new perspective towards reading how Istanbul is screened in online TV series. Paths highlight socio-economic disparities by connecting various districts, both urban and rural, while edges, such as the Bosporus and other waterfronts, create physical and symbolic boundaries emphasizing themes of isolation and confinement. Districts portray contrasting social structures, with some series focusing on dense, bustling areas and others on rural. Nodes serve as critical locations for key events and character interactions, weaving the narrative threads together, and landmarks, particularly historical ones like Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, ground the stories in Istanbul’s rich cultural heritage. The analysis reveals that these TV series not only utilize Istanbul’s urban elements to enhance storytelling but also contribute to the evolving perception of the city, depicting it as a place of stark social contrasts, urban dichotomies, and mythical heritage. Through this lens, the study underscores the significant role of visual media in constructing urban narratives, showing how Istanbul’s blend of historical grandeur and contemporary vibrancy is instrumentalized and reproduced in the selected TV series. These series collectively shape and reinforce Istanbul’s image in the global imagination, highlighting the city’s multifaceted nature and its importance as a cultural and historical hub. Keywords: visual media, TV series, urban space, city image, İstanbul