On the Rear End of Romance

Situated at a literal crossroads between East and West, an abundance of vehicles pass through Istanbul in the name of international logistics. Lorries, especially, dominate the roads at certain hours of the day, creating a somewhat intimidating atmosphere.
Unlike most scary looking giants, however, these lorries are not afraid to show their vulnerable side… and they do so by attaching hand-decorated, poetic slogans, on their rear end.

We don’t know where or how this tradition started, but we do know that mass media tools such as the film industry has played a major role.¹ 1982 made Çiçek Abbas, for example, plays a key role in establishing a series of cultural references specific to people who drive for a living. Especially the scene where two minibus drivers are involved in a spoken-word battle must have resonated with the community, as these sayings are nowadays commonly seen on the roads. Having said that, Çiçek Abbas was probably not where the slogans originated, but where they spread to popular culture.

Author Ilhan Basgöz explains this phenomenon in terms of social psychology, and points at alienation caused by continuous internal migration from villages to big cities as a starting point.¹ According to Basgöz, these decorations are a type of folklore which, on the one hand reflect the personality of the driver who disappears in the crowd, on the other hand, reflects the social and political structure, and the fundamental changes in society.²

A lot is lost in translation but one theme that runs across most slogans you see is a kind of hopeless romance - think of Bridget Jones with no inhibitions. We can't be sure if it's due to the content, their sheer size, or the fact that the slogans are embraced with pride, but sass is a key element.
And while many are humorous, what really makes them funny is the delivery: an unapologetic statement of idealistic or sentimental nature, decorated at the back of a lorry.

Needless to say, lorries, along with tractors, are fundamental symbols of masculinity, often pushed on young boys from childhood. Somehow though, these young boys grew up and decided to use their tokens of manliness to express and embrace their identities, and communicate to the world.

When it comes to romance as a concept, us pedestrians are often struggling in the communication department. So if we can take away one thing from the lorries of Turkey, let it be their courage. After all, there is no romance without courage.

And remember, the rear end of romance is better than no romance at all.