THE AUDIOVISUAL AESTHETICS AND POLITICS OF GAYE SU AKYOL’S MUSIC

Authors : Çağrı Yılmaz

Pages : 1-15

Doi:10.7456/tojdac.1559760

View : 261 | Download : 477

Publication Date : 2025-01-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This textual study explores the politically motivated art of Gaye Su Akyol, a notable female voice in today’s Anatolian rock scene, who opposes power-based inequities. Akyol’s music partakes of local and global musical idioms, with politically charged lyrics and allegorical music videos, all of which warrant in-depth analysis. To this end, the research initially presents an overview of Akyol’s background and Anatolian rock, her primary source of inspiration. The study employs intersectionality as a critical analytical tool to dissect the political subtexts within the audiovisual aesthetics of Akyol’s art, for she utilizes a wide variety of politically constructed symbolic imagery that enhances the depth of her narrative. Subsequently, it analyzes her songwriting and music videos—namely, İsyan Manifestosu and İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir, to unravel the underlying political messages through the modes of close and contextual readings. The findings demonstrate that Akyol undermines dualities such as West/East, modern/traditional, man/woman, straight/queer, culture/nature, and human/nonhuman to foster empathy, reconciliation, transformation, and hope. Her artistic endeavors challenge prevailing injustices and biases and stand in solidarity with Others through a spotlight on inclusivity and diversity. The research concludes that Akyol crusades for progressive values against inequalities through her contrarian art.
Keywords : Gaye Su Akyol, Anadolu Rock, Kesişimsellik, Yakın Okuma, Bağlamsal Okuma, Psikedelik