We’ve moved on from ‘every home a castle’ to ‘every home a Netflix’, and this might be the most notable change in our 50-year struggle for the liberation of our occupied homeland, or at least for raising awareness and internationalising the Cyprus issue.
At least, this is what many of us believe after the recent protests by Tatar and other Turkish officials against the Netflix series ‘Famagusta’. That is a sign we’ve finally found a way to expose Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974 to the international community.
However, if we put ourselves in the shoes of a 25 or 40-year-old Swede, German, Italian, Chinese, or even a Greek, who might choose to watch this series that makes us feel our cause is finally being recognised, we’d realise that they perceive it as a historical event, much like we view stories about the Chilean coup, World War II, or other period dramas. They engage with it emotionally detached.
Moreover, in the world of Netflix, one show quickly fades as you move on to the next, with little time for reflection. The platform’s abundance of content encourages binge-watching, making it a purely entertaining experience. You might watch ‘Maestro in Blue’ by Papakaliatis and ‘Famagusta’ by Georgiou back-to-back without distinguishing between them.
The show’s creators are entitled to feel validated by their series being selected for international distribution, but no struggle has ever been justified through television alone. Decades ago, before streaming platforms, TV and cinema indeed contributed to raising public awareness, but this was in conjunction with ongoing activism and other efforts. Now, half a century later, these events are classified as period dramas.
Even if we believe Netflix offers a platform for our voice, it’s open to anyone to say anything, without scrutiny. The only criterion is marketability. Turkey has mastered the art of creating popular series, which even Greek and Cypriot audiences enjoy. Netflix has no reason to reject a series that guarantees viewers.
Read more: