Class Year
2026
Document Type
Student Research Paper
Date of Creation
Spring 2026
Department 1
German
Abstract
This paper explores how Turkish-German identity is constructed and negotiated through cultural production in contemporary Germany. It argues that belonging is shaped less by formal political inclusion than by processes of visibility, commodification, and marketability. Through case studies of döner kebab culture, Turkish-German cinema, and hip-hop, the paper shows how minority identity is made legible to the mainstream by being aestheticized and adapted to familiar forms. While these processes enable recognition and creative expression, they also reveal how acceptance is often contingent on profitability and cultural “palatability” rather than genuine social integration.
Copyright Note
This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Recommended Citation
Goldsborough, Thomas, "A Palatable Identity: Turkish-German Integration through Cuisine, Film and Hip-Hop" (2026). Student Publications. 1201.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/1201
Included in
European Languages and Societies Commons, German Language and Literature Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons
Comments
Written for GER 400: Senior Seminar