Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
XI. International Symposium of Social and Applied Gerontology, Antalya, Türkiye, 20 Kasım 2024 - 22 Şubat 2025, ss.61, (Özet Bildiri)
Introduction/Purpose: In
today's media-society relationship, the media plays a decisive role, bringing
the concept of representation to the forefront. The media serves as a
significant tool that reflects societal perceptions and behaviors. Television,
as a medium, is an important part of everyday life. However, the representation
of the elderly in television series is often constructed around negative
narratives. Elderly individuals are frequently stereotyped as dependent and
passive. In contrast, focusing on the positive aspects of aging could foster a
more favorable perception of aging and old age. Therefore, the aim of this
study is to analyze the character of Ciritçi Abdullah in the series Gönül Dağı
as an example of elderly representation in television series.
Method: A qualitative
research design was adopted for this study. Qualitative content analysis and
descriptive analysis techniques were used in the analysis of the research. As a
result of the analyses, two main themes and three sub-themes were identified.
The first main theme is 'the example of Ciritçi Abdullah in the context of
activity theory.' Under this main theme, there are three sub-themes: (1)
physical activity, (2) social participation and social support, and (3) social
role and family relationships. The second main theme is 'the example of Ciritçi
Abdullah in the context of wisdom in old age.
Results: The research
findings reveal that, contrary to the existing literature, the character of
Ciritçi Abdullah is depicted as active, with strong social relationships and
roles, independent/autonomous, wise, and a respected figure. In this sense, the
character of Ciritçi Abdullah stands out as an example of positive elderly
representation. Given that the series Gönül Dağı addresses a traditional
societal structure and reality, it is an expected outcome that it features a
positive elderly representation. However, it can be argued that this character
is a significant example of a positive portrayal of aging in television series,
countering the perception of old age reinforced by popular culture in modern
society, which often positions elderly individuals in a lower status.
Conclusion: In conclusion,
it can be said that the proliferation of characters like Ciritçi Abdullah in
the media could contribute to improving the representation of the elderly and
lead to positive changes in negative perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and
narratives toward older adults. In this regard, it is recommended to increase
academic studies on elderly representation in the media.
Key
Words: Elderly representation, Older adults, Qualitative design.