3 - 4 pm (CET)

Venue:

Einstein Center Chronoi 

Otto-von-Simson-Straße 7, 14195 Berlin

Dr. Filiz Tütüncü Çağlar

This talk explores how the Ottoman Imperial Museum engaged with time and the past during the late Ottoman period, positioning itself as a key actor in shaping the empire’s evolving identity. By examining archival sources, field reports, and museum publications, I argue that the museum actively utilized its collections to promote concepts of progress, civilization, and modernity, thus playing a central role in the Ottoman modernization mission. Drawing upon François Hartog’s concept of the ‘temporal agent,’ I examine how the museum, rather than simply preserving relics, reframed the past to envision a future for the empire by claiming ownership over antiquities, investigating ancient sites and displaying its collections in ways that were distinct from its European counterparts. The museum’s approach to archaeology reflects a larger transformation in Ottoman intellectual history, where the past was not merely an object of curiosity but a vital resource in the empire’s efforts to define its modern identity. In doing so, this talk presents the Imperial Museum as both a cultural institution and a temporal actor, shaping the Ottoman vision of the past, present, and future. Advocating for the recognition of historically marginalized alternative epistemologies, this talk calls for reconsidering the museum’s role in the broader discourse on global modernity, particularly in non-Western contexts.

Participants can join the online Chronoi Talk by clicking on the following link:

https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin-en/j.php?MTID=m83d3b172eda1c4926b4f9122ef0cb90e

The conference room can be accessed using the following methods:

• Joining directly in your browser; simply click the link above, and look for a button with this option near the bottom of the webpage.

• Downloading the program to your computer (instructions can be found by following the meeting link)

• Using the smartphone app called "Cisco Webex Meetings."

You are welcome to enter the online conference room up to 15 minutes in advance of the start time.