COMP 2A: Mustang Context

Question 1

What cultural practice is central to the narrative of the film Mustang?

Answer 1

Arranged marriages and the importance placed on the virginity of the four eldest sisters

The film critiques the patriarchal structure in rural Turkey.

Question 2

What is the legal marriage age in Turkey?

Answer 2

Eighteen

Parents can apply for exemption for 16 and 17-year-olds.

Question 3

What percentage of girls in Turkey are estimated to be married before the age of eighteen?

Answer 3

15%

Turkey has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Europe.

Question 4

True or False: The character’s experiences in Mustang represent the reality of all young women in Turkey.

Answer 4

False

The film depicts a narrative that is not the experience of all Turkish women.

Question 5

What has been a consequence of the influx of Syrian refugees to Turkey regarding marriage?

Answer 5

Many Syrian parents effectively selling their daughters into marriage

This underscores the impact of socio-economic factors on gender issues.

Question 6

What significant legal change occurred in Turkey in November 2016 regarding child marriage?

Answer 6

The Turkish government withdrew a bill that would allow perpetrators of sexual assault to be exonerated if they married their victims

This move was supported by MPs, human rights campaigners, and the public.

Question 7

What percentage of women in Turkey experienced physical or psychological violence from a partner or family member in 2016?

Answer 7

86%

This statistic highlights the prevalence of domestic violence in Turkey.

Question 8

How many women died as a result of domestic violence in Turkey in 2015?

Answer 8

300

This figure is more than double the 2014 UK figure.

Question 9

What aesthetic does the film Mustang draw on?

Answer 9

Neorealism movement

It utilizes real locations, observational cinematography, and non-professional actors.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: The films within the academic study of European cinema are often described as _______.

Answer 10

[art house]

This term reflects a specific style within European cinema.

Question 11

What type of societal issues does Mustang explore?

Answer 11

Social and political issues among the working class

This exploration is a key element of its narrative.