Commercialization of secularizing ritual: an analysis of Mevlevî semās in the context of commodification, desacralization and cultural degeneration

Abstract

The Mevlevî semâ is an ancient ritual laden with symbolic meanings, representing the mystical and mystical aspect of Islamic thought. Semâ is at the center of the Mevlevî path, which is shaped by the teachings of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, and is a worship with a high spiritual depth in which the dervish expresses the process of integration with divine love through body language. However, in Turkey, especially in the last fifteen to twenty years, it is observed that this ritual has been gradually removed from its traditional context and started to be presented in secularized spaces and market-oriented events. Semâ is now performed like a performance of stage art in a wide range of events, from shopping mall openings to wedding organizations, from hotel touristic shows to state protocol ceremonies. This situation brings about a transformation that undermines the sanctity of semā and reduces it to an aesthetic spectacle.bThis article focuses on the representation of Mevlevî semā in secular spaces and discusses this transformation within the framework of the concepts of commodification, desacralization and cultural degeneration. An interdisciplinary evaluation is made through theoretical perspectives such as Baudrillard's simulacrum theory, Bourdieu's understanding of cultural capital, Turner's conception of ritual and Walter Benjamin's concept of aura. Using qualitative research methods, the analysis of media content and contemporary visual examples reveals the transformation in the meaning of semâ. The findings reveal that the original spiritual dimension of semâ has been gradually obscured and it has become a part of the market economy. Thus, the Mevlevî tradition is transformed not only on a formal but also on a substantive level, becoming one of the cultural consumption objects of modern capitalist society. In this context, the article presents a critical interrogation of traditional rituals in the context of the protection of cultural heritage by addressing their ruptures in the secularization process.