As is known, Servet-i Fünûn was an important literary and cultural magazine published in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 19th century. Founded in 1891 by Ahmet İhsan Tokgöz, the magazine initially focused on science and technical subjects. However, when Tevfik Fikret took over as editor in 1896, the magazine's direction shifted towards literature and art. Published weekly, Servet-i Fünûn became one of the most long-lasting and influential publications of its time. The magazine also became the center of the literary group bearing the same name and played a significant role in the modernization of Turkish literature. Servet-i Fünûn magazine introduced Ottoman intellectuals to world literature by featuring new and original literary works as well as translations from Western literature. The magazine, which continued its publication life until 1944 with some interruptions, left deep marks in Turkish cultural and literary history.
Tevfik Fikret's assumption of the editorship of Servet-i Fünûn magazine was a turning point in the publication's history. Taking over as editor in 1896, Fikret shifted the focus of the publication from science to literature. During this period, the magazine became almost a literary school by bringing together the most talented young writers and poets of the time. Under Fikret's leadership, the influences of Western literature became more prominent in the magazine, with works inspired especially by French symbolism beginning to be published. During this period, important figures such as Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, Mehmet Rauf, and Cenap Şahabettin published their works in the magazine. Tevfik Fikret simplified the language of the magazine and enriched its content. However, in 1901, Fikret was forced to leave the magazine due to political pressures. Nevertheless, the five years under his editorship played a critical role in the modernization of Turkish literature, and this period was known as "Edebiyat-ı Cedide" (New Literature).
Beyond All This
The importance of the magazine in our literary and publishing history is undoubtedly immense. However, I won't delve into these topics at length in this article. There's another aspect to the importance of this magazine that I've noticed. When I had just finished my first year of my degree, I acquired dozens of issues of this magazine from a secondhand bookshop in Kadıköy. When I started examining the magazine issues, two things caught my attention:
How much of a blessing it was for that period to have illustrations
How these images could be as eye-opening as a weapon
As children of a generation born into the world of television and accustomed to smartphones, I don't think we can fully grasp the importance and revolutionary nature of photography. This reminds me of what I've read about the importance of Marco Polo's work. Almost all writers talk about how Polo's writings aroused great curiosity in Europe about the world outside Europe and the transformation this curiosity created. Photography achieved a similar transformation, perhaps in an even more effective way. Indeed, until the end of the 19th century, the only thing that took someone out of their own world was oral narratives and stories. After photography, this situation became visual. Stories were now supported by visuals. For example, places like Paris, London, Vienna; how the Russian Tsar, the Bulgarian Prince, etc. dressed or what they looked like became visualized through these magazines. Servet-i Fünûn is not just a literary magazine. It describes what Hyde Park is like. It describes the latest fashion in Europe. Moreover, it does all of these by supporting them with visuals.
"His Majesty Emperor Nicholas II of Russia" - 1896
Imagine for a moment that you are a young Ottoman and you've found a magazine that provides you with new information about places and people you've always heard about, and even offers visuals. This is exactly why Servet-i Fünûn was so important and, for the same reason, "dangerous". It wasn't the only magazine with these qualities, of course, but the staff and network inside it were like the champions league of the period. This made it stand out considerably. Many works that we define as classics today first met the public in this magazine. Many poems were first printed here. Therefore, it was like a locomotive in terms of ideas for that period.
Tevfik Fikret?
Numerous articles and books have been published about Tevfik Fikret. There's no point in repeating here. One of the things that made Fikret special and famous is what I wrote above. Putting aside his personal life, there are many points that can be criticized in terms of his poetry and writing (especially considering his "inspirations" from Victor Hugo and French literature). However, the power of his pen is also evident. Fikret is the face of an "idea". He was important because, in addition to being a poet, Tevfik Fikret was at the head of a magazine where everything about European life was followed. People learned from his magazine what Europeans ate and drank, and saw in pictures what was where. He was at the head of a newspaper that directed all of this. He was at the head of the platform and gave direction to it. He was holding the helm of the world of ideas.
Note to those interested: There's also a magnificent database prepared about Servet-i Fünûn. Those interested can access many issues of the magazine here: http://www.servetifunundergisi.com/sayilar/
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