Reframing ‘Scum’ (Çapulcu): A Frame Analysis of the Gezi Park Movement in Türkiye

This article examines the Gezi Park protests in Türkiye by focusing on how the term "scum" (çapulcu), initially used by government representatives as a derogatory label, was reinterpreted and transformed into a collective identity by protesters. The study aims to analyze how competing sociological interpretations of the Gezi Park Movement relate to this process of symbolic reframing. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on thematic classification and document analysis of academic writings and social media content. Drawing on Erving Goffman’s frame analysis and a relational cultural sociology perspective, the study examines how meanings are constructed, contested, and transformed. The analysis identifies three main strands of interpretation—class/political, civil society, and culture/identity-based approaches—and shows that, despite their differences, all converge in recognizing the movement’s transformative impact. The findings demonstrate that the term "çapulcu" was successfully reframed through humor, creativity, and digital communication, becoming a unifying and empowering identity. The study highlights the importance of cultural processes, symbolic interaction, and social media in contemporary social movements, suggesting that meaning-making practices are as significant as structural conditions in shaping collective action. The article argues that contemporary social movements cannot be adequately understood without attending to cultural processes and symbolic interaction alongside structural conditions.