The conference titled “From His Time to the Present: The Continuity of Yahya Kemal's World of Poetry and Thought” was held with great participation at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN).
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Samsakçı participated as the speaker in the conference held at Ali Arslan Conference Hall. The BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, senate members, academic and administrative staff, and students attended the program.
Following a moment of silence and singing of the National Anthem, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer began his opening speech by emphasizing the continuity and significance of Yahya Kemal Beyatlı’s world of thought and poetry. Prof. Dr. Özölçer talked about Yahya Kemal’s love for İstanbul and his understanding of culture and esthetics with examples and stated that his works are not just works of art but include the memory of civilization. He noted that having Prof. Dr. Mehmet Samsakçı, known for his works on Yahya Kemal, as a speaker in this conference provides attendees with the opportunity to understand the ideas of Yahya Kemal in detail. Prof. Dr. Özölçer ended his speech by thanking those who contributed to the organization.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Samsakçı stated the significance of Yahya Kemal Beyatlı’s works in modern Turkish literature in his talk titled “From His Time to the Present: The Continuity of Yahya Kemal's World of Poetry and Thought”. Samsakçı emphasized that the poems and the world of thoughts of the poet not only reflect the aesthetic but also reflect the idea. He talked about Beyatlı’s love for İstanbul, his devotion to the Turkish culture and aesthetics with examples. He noted that his works shed light on today’s literature, and the continuity of his thoughts is an important milestone in the evolution of Turkish Literature. Furthermore, by sharing photos reflecting his life, Samsakçı provided an opportunity for the attendees to get to know the poet better. He ended his speech thanking Prof. Dr. Özölçer and those who contributed to this event.
The event ended with the presentation of a certificate of attendance to Prof. Dr. Samsakçı and a commemorative photo.
