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To Understand Turhan is to
Understand the Modern World
YASAR KEMAL
Turhan
Selcuk is a man of letters. A poet, 0 novelist, a short story
writer... A strange statement perhaps, but which for me
describes the real Turhan SeTcuk. By saying this I do not mean
to belittle the art of the caricaturist. On the contrary; it is
an art that can attain the heights of a Chekhov; a Katharine
Mansfield, a Sait Faik, and even strike the note. And indeed
this is what Turhan Selcuk has achieved.
Is there such a thing as a rating for art, and by what standard
can it be rated? Is it just a question of individual taste or
are there fixed criteria? No doubt there are criteria, but never
really quite clearly defined.
I would choose as a criterion an
artist like Chekhov whose value has been recognized everywhere.
And the principal reason for this choice is the incredible
similarity I find between Chekhov and Turhan Selcuk, as though
they had both drunk from the same source.
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