Understanding cultural tourism through the themes of history and identity in postmodern novels: the white castle

Authors

Ümit Şengel

Corresponding Author

Affiliation: Sakarya University of Applied Science, Sakarya, Türkiye

Email: umitsengel@gmail.com

ORCID: 0000-0003-1284-836X

Zeki Coşkun

Affiliation: Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Türkiye

Email: zeki.coskun@msgsu.edu.tr

ORCID: 0000-0002-3695-619X

Sena Uz

Affiliation: Sakarya University of Applied Science, Sakarya, Türkiye

Email: didarsari@subu.edu.tr

ORCID: 0009-0000-2597-8062

Published:December 15, 2025

How to Cite

Şengel, Ü., Coşkun, Z., & Uz, S. (2025). Understanding cultural tourism through the themes of history and identity in postmodern novels: the white castle. CACTUS Tourism Journal, 32 (1). doi.org/10.24818/CTS/7/2025/2.04

Based on the official APA guide. Review the full set of examples.

Abstract

Cultural tourism emerges from various sources rooted in social life. Novels that explore social elements such as history, identity, and culture serve as important written sources of information, stimulating tourists’ interest in destinations. Although concepts like history and identity are abstract, they can become significant attractions when highlighted by authors’ descriptive abilities within the narrative, influencing readers and arousing their curiosity. In this context, the study aims to identify the roles of novels in cultural tourism by examining the themes of history and identity in postmodern novels. The study used the autoethnographic method and analysed Orhan Pamuk’s “The White Castle,” which compares East and West through cultural values such as history and identity, as it was considered suitable for the study’s purpose. The results indicate that the novel presents cultural differences through elements such as identity, history, religion, city, language, art, and gastronomy. The novel vividly conveys these cultural differences through the interplay of plot and description.

Keywords

postmodern novel, cultural tourism, history, identity

JEL Classification

Z1, Z32

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