The Transformation of Traditional Values in the Modern Era: The Performance of Sebahat Akkiraz's 'Yeşil İpek'

Concepts such as folk, traditionalism, modernism and postmodernism have been discussed by various disciplines in different contexts throughout history, and their meanings have constantly changed and transformed depending on periodic dynamics and value systems, yet no definitive conclusions have been reached. Studies in fields such as folklore, sociology and cultural anthropology have evaluated the concept of folk from different perspectives, emphasizing the complexity of the conflict between tradition and modernism in social transformation processes. Efforts to understand modernism have generally focused on its basic principles and effects. It is thought that perceiving tradition as a complete opposite of modernism may lead to some problems. Both concepts are not necessarily in conflict with each other; in fact, they are directly related and can be considered to contribute to each other's development. It is not a healthy approach to consider their historical development separately from each other. Moreover, it has been observed that postmodernism offers a local, subjective and polyphonic perspective by opposing universalism and progressive ideals. The work Yeşil İpek, which is the focus of this study, performed vocally by Sabahat Akkiraz and arranged instrumentally by Bedük, exemplifies the postmodern transformation of Turkish folk music. This work, which synthesizes traditional and modern music elements, reveals a performance style that uses today's technological possibilities while preserving the richness of tradition. This research was conducted using a qualitative research design to understand the transformation of traditional values in the modern period. The literature obtained from articles published in academic journals, book chapters and online databases were grouped under certain headings and analyzed under different disciplines and approaches.