Hannah Grossblatt

Hannah Grossblatt is a recipient of the 2018-2019 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The award provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with financial support to develop fluency in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and expertise in the regions in which these languages are spoken. Every year the Center for Global Studies awards between 12-15 fellowships to UW students. Click here to learn more.

As a Masters student in the Jackson School of International Studies, my research and interests revolve around contemporary Turkish identity and how various Ottoman pasts impact this identity, as well as how these pasts are used to reconstruct the present. I’m currently interested in the themes of shame and humiliation and how these mechanisms are employed to reinforce specific social identities. The academic year FLAS I received this year will allow me to continue my Turkish studies to reach the advanced level, which will be critical given my research interests. I plan to continue my Turkish learning beyond this year, and the Turkish I learn this year will be a great asset when I return to Turkey (hopefully in summer 2019!) My interest in Turkey and learning Turkish actually formed while I was in Germany learning German during my undergraduate studies. I was exposed to aspects of Turkish culture and language and I was incredibly curious to learn more. Thanks to FLAS for this wonderful opportunity!