Selim Sırrı Kuru (he/him)

I am a historian specializing in medieval and early modern Western Anatolian Turkish literature, with a strong foundation in philology. My research spans Anatolian Turkish literary production from the 14th to early 20th centuries, focusing on the pivotal late 15th and early 16th centuries. I explore literature as a universal human experience, with particular attention to gender, literary circles, and competition within the Anatolian Turkic city-states and the Ottoman Empire.

Research Interests: Western Anatolian Turkish emerged as a written medium in 13th-century Anatolia, evolving into the official and literary language of the Ottoman Empire and a foundational aspect of Turkish identity in the Republic of Turkey. My research spans from the earliest Anatolian texts to contemporary works, with a particular focus on the 13th to 16th centuries. I explore the deep connections between Anatolian/Ottoman Turkish texts and the broader literary cultures of the Arab, Persian, and medieval world, situating Turkish literature within a global context. In addition to my work on historical texts, I am particularly interested in how gender is formulated within Ottoman and Modern Turkish literatures and how literary networks functioned across the Ottoman Empire. My research draws on comparative studies with other world literary traditions, examining the influence of Arabic and Persian languages and cultures on Anatolian and Ottoman literary outputs.

My current research projects include the translation of five late 18th-century versified narratives, as preserved in an early 19th-century manuscript held in the Davis Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark. This translation is part of my ongoing exploration of the significance of literary production among the Ottoman elite and intellectuals. Additionally, I am working on an edition and translation of an early 16th-century Ottoman Turkish prosometric literary text on sexuality and illegitimate sexual acts, building on my dissertation research. This project is complemented by a monograph-length essay titled Unruly Acts of Desire. I am also in the early stages of a monograph on the gazel form, tentatively titled Empire and Poetics of Desire, which examines its transmission and function within the Ottoman intellectual and governing elite.

Teaching Philosophy: In my courses, I aim to create a dynamic learning environment where students can explore the rich tapestry of Ottoman and Modern Turkish cultures and literatures. Whether teaching Ottoman Turkish, advanced modern Turkish, or courses on world literature and Middle Eastern-themed graphic novels, I emphasize the importance of verbal and visual texts in understanding the role of literature and the arts in shaping societies. My approach integrates historical, cultural, and methodological perspectives, offering students a comprehensive view of the region’s literary heritage.

 My graduate teaching reflects my broad interests in the literary and historical study of the Near and Middle East. Beyond Ottoman and Turkish studies, I delve into historiography and methodologies, particularly through my graduate course on Methodologies in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. In this course, I encourage students to critically engage with the diverse intellectual traditions of the region, fostering a deep understanding of the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped its literary landscapes.