Yeni Medyada Hikâye Anlatımı Pratikleri Bağlamında Ötekiyle Karşılaşma: “Katarsis X-Tra” Örneği

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore the "Katarsis X-tra" program on YouTube, focusing on sharing the life stories of marginalized individuals and analyzing audience feedback. The program, hosted by Gökhan Çınar, aims to bring the stories of marginalized individuals to the public. The study evaluates audience feedback through YouTube comments using feminist post-structuralist discourse analysis. The interactive and multimedia features of YouTube provide an opportunity for a broad global audience to share their stories. Alongside this opportunity, the pursuit of emotional well-being, popularized in the 21st century, has also found its way onto these platforms. The thesis discusses the evolution of new media, audience studies, the changing role of digital platforms, and the significance of the "Katarsis X-tra" program in the context of psychology and storytelling. Through in-depth interviews with the production team, it seeks to understand the program's goals, production processes, and audience responses. This thesis analyzes the episodes featuring Mehtap Yılmaz, a nightclub worker, and Deniz Taha, a sex worker, from the "Katarsis X-tra" program in detail through YouTube comments to understand audience feedback. The analysis reveals that Mehtap Yılmaz's support and sacrifices for her family, especially her sense of responsibility towards her brother, are highlighted in positive comments. Deniz Taha's process of coping with domestic violence has created an emotional impact on viewers, fostering empathy for Taha's challenges. Overall, the analysis indicates that the program has positive outcomes. Viewers positively appreciate the attention brought to societal issues through the life stories of guests and find the emotional storytelling impactful. It is concluded that the program generates empathy in viewers by narrating marginalized lives and contributes to making taboo subjects discussable. Additionally, the number of viewers criticizing the program and making negative comments is observed to be low within the general audience. In conclusion, the "Katarsis X-tra" program successfully creates awareness by presenting marginalized lives emotionally, eliciting empathy from viewers, and breaking down prejudices. The analysis of YouTube comments

demonstrates that viewers generally respond positively, indicating that the program has achieved its objectives.