Erksan's 'Dark World' Censored by Turkish Authorities
Published on 7.31.25
A new exhibition at Salt Galata in Istanbul delves into the censored history of "Dark World," a film originally directed by Metin Erksan and written by Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, which tells the story of legendary folk poet Âşık Veysel. The film was shot in rural Anatolia's Sivrialan village and Ürgüp town, but underwent significant changes following censorship rulings issued by the Central Film Control Commission in Ankara between 1952 and 1953. These edits, including staged footage from Istanbul, altered the narrative to reflect Turkey's agricultural modernization agenda, transforming the film into a vehicle for state propaganda.