THE QUEER-IDENTIFIED PROTAGONIST AS A CULTURAL MEDIATOR IN THE “HOP ÇIKI YAYA” SERIES BY THE TURKISH AUTHOR MEHMET MURAT SOMER

Abstract

This paper explores the figure of the queer-identified protagonist in Mehmet Murat Somer’s “Hop-Çiki-Yaya” series as a cultural mediator, navigating between diverse and often conflicting social spheres in contemporary Turkish society. The protagonist – an unnamed, amateur detective and drag performer – challenges dominant gender norms while inhabiting multiple cultural registers. Drawing on theories of identity, and performativity, the analysis highlights how the protagonist operates within liminal zones, negotiating between traditional values and progressive ideals, Eastern and Western cultural codes, visibility and discretion. Through linguistic play, fashion, and ironic social commentary, the character bridges the gap between marginalized and mainstream discourses, turning queerness into a site of both resistance and reconciliation. The paper argues that this unique positioning enables the protagonist not only to solve crimes, but also to expose the contradictions of Turkish modernity and to foster dialogue across cultures.