The Reception of the Conservative and Secular Distinction in Television Series: The Case of Red Rosebuds

Abstract

The aim of the study is to reveal the representations of the conservative and secular segments, the messages given in the series, and the effects of the series on the viewers, with a special focus on the series Red Rosebuds. In line with these objectives, the study aims to answer the following questions: "What are the reasons for watching the series?", "With which words are the family structures in the series defined?", "Who are the characters that the viewers feel close to in the series?", "Are the family structures in the series conveyed objectively?", "How are the conservative and secular groups represented? What messages are given through these representations?", "Are there any political messages in the series?", "What kind of effect do the representations of conservative and secular groups have on the viewers?", "Does the series take place in daily conversations? In which ways?" are sought to be answered. Reception analysis method was used in the study. In the study, ten participants who follow the Red Gonbons series and live in Sivas were reached through snowball sampling. As a result of the study, it was determined that the series gives messages of empathy, mutual interaction and communication, solidarity for the two segments, that both segments should not go to extremes in terms of lifestyles, and that the series contains messages for the education of girls. It was also observed that the series gave political messages about the recent past. In addition, it was observed that the series was generally followed by the participants because it was about different segments, the two segments were represented with sharp distinctions in the series, the family structures in the series were generally defined as conservative / secular, secular, the series was effective on the viewers, and the family structures were conveyed objectively.