Karagöz is a form of shadow theater in Turkey that dates back to the Ottoman era. The figures are made of camel or ox hides and are shaped like people.
They are held on rods and then moved on rods in front of the light source to cast their shadows on a cotton screen. The play begins with the appearance of an introductory figure to set the scene and suggest themes for the drama, before it vanishes and giving way to the main performance which may include singing, music, poetry, myth, and riddles.
The comic stories usually feature the two main characters, Karagöz and Hacivat, and a host of others. The puppets are controlled and manipulated by a lead artist who may have one or more apprentice assistants, and performances are widely performed in cafés, parks, and public squares, especially during the holy month of Ramadan as well as during circumcision feasts, and performances also exist in performance halls, schools, and shopping centers in the large cities where it still draws audiences.
Traditional theater enhances a sense of cultural identity and brings people closer together through entertainment.

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Karagöz was inscribed in 2009 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Turkey.