How Social Media Platforms Replace Film Archives When There Are No Archives

Abstract

In the frst part of the chapter, I will share some notes regarding the history, narrative structure and production mode of the Yesilcam industry, which prevailed between the late 1940s and the 1980s, for the sake of providing some background information. Then, I will focus on the online release of Yesilcam flms on YouTube to reveal the dynamics of this recent development which radically changed the access conditions to these flms. Finally, I will explore the problematic aspects of accessing Yesilcam flms through YouTube, demonstrating the legal and commercial uncertainty surrounding the online presence of these flms. I will conclude by discussing how the flms on YouTube can sustain the life and legacy of Yesilcam in different ways.