USC Institute of Armenian Studies

The Institute of Armenian Studies will host a day-long symposium, Artsakh Uprooted: Aftermaths of Displacement, on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at USC's iconic Bovard Auditorium.

In light of the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the event will offer a platform for prominent figures from academia, the arts, and civil society to reflect on this seismic shift in the Armenian world. Read more.

Institute to Host Multidisciplinary Symposium on Artsakh – USC Institute of Armenian Studies The USC Institute of Armenian Studies will host a day-long symposium, Artsakh Uprooted: Aftermaths of Displacement, on Saturday, November 2.

Director of the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies Dr. Shushan Karapetian was invited to contribute an original essay to the Brown Journal of World Affairs, a biannual journal of international relations and foreign policy produced at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Founded in 1993, the Journal provides a forum for world leaders, policymakers, and prominent academics to engage in vigorous intellectual debate. Each issue showcases incisive scholarship on the most salient international issues of today and tomorrow. Past contributors include Jimmy Carter, Samantha Power, Mikhail Gorbachev, John Kerry, Noam Chomsky, and Joseph Stiglitz.

The newest edition of the Journal features a section entitled “Diaspora Communities,” and includes Dr. Karapetian’s essay Performing Diasporic Resistance: (Re)Claiming the Heritage Language. Based on her fieldwork during and after the 2020 Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) War, Dr. Karapetian examines the unprecedented transnational mobilization of Armenian communities worldwide. She highlights how advances in digital media and communication technologies have enlarged the scope of civilian participation in warfare. The essay examines how language is viewed and used during war, particularly the heritage language of diasporan civilians. More specifically, Dr. Karapetian explores to what extent the heritage language is employed as both a symbolic and strategic tool in wartime transnational activism.

The Institute is committed to centering Armenian Studies in global academic discourse. This vision is achieved through meaningful contributions by Institute experts to preeminent scholarly forums. The Institute’s pioneering research consistently brings Armenian experiences to the forefront of societal conversation on the most important issues of our time.

https://bjwa.brown.edu

.
The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies announces a day-long symposium, Artsakh Uprooted: Aftermaths of Displacement on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the University of Southern California.

The program will bring together prominent figures from academia, the arts, and civil society to unpack the latest developments in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). In light of the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of the region, Artsakh Uprooted will offer a platform to collectively process this seismic shift in the Armenian world. The dynamic line-up will feature voices from Artsakh, as well as multidisciplinary contributions from across USC.

Mark your calendars for this important event. Full program details will be shared in the coming weeks.

USC STUDENTS,

Discover the vibrant world of Armenian Studies this Fall 2024 by enrolling in MDA 333: Colloquium in Armenian Studies—your gateway to cutting-edge research and discussion surrounding the contemporary Armenian experience. This 2-unit course will offer a general introduction to Armenian Studies by tracing the field’s origins, trajectory, and prospects. The course will also feature exclusive guest lectures by some of the leading scholars in Armenian Studies.

There are no prerequisites, and knowledge of the Armenian language or history is not required. This course satisfies the requirements for Interdisciplinary Minor in Folklore and Popular Culture and Interdisciplinary Minor in Resistance to Genocide.

Institute Director Dr. Shushan Karapetian teaches the class!

Have questions? Email Dr. K [email protected]

When & Where: Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:50 PM, DMC 209

Course · USC Schedule of Classes

The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies is pleased to welcome Maral Tavitian as the first Managing Director. She will collaborate with Director Dr. Shushan Karapetian to manage all aspects of program operations and develop a long-term strategy for the Institute’s growth and impact.

Tavitian earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2017 from , where she graduated as the Outstanding Print and Digital Journalism Scholar. She completed minors in entrepreneurship and human rights and was one of 10 students in the university’s graduating class to receive the Renaissance Scholar Prize for exceptional scholarship in diverse fields of study.

Tavitian returned to USC in 2019 to receive her juris doctorate from , where she dedicated herself to public interest legal work for underserved communities in Los Angeles. She was a member of the USC Immigration Clinic, vice president of the Armenian Law Students’ Association, and received the Order of Aréte in recognition of her leadership and commitment to service. In 2022, she joined Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County as a fellow, where she provided comprehensive legal advocacy for refugee clients.

Tavitian brings to the Institute her expertise in journalism and law, coupled with a deep knowledge of USC and the university network stemming from her extensive involvements as a student and alum.

The Institute co-sponsored the 9th International Conference on Genocide by the International Network of Genocide Scholars (INoGS) and the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research(), which took place from June 23 to June 26, 2024 at USC. The biennial convention entitled “Genocide and Survivor Communities: Agency, Resistance, Recognition” featured opening remarks by INoGS President Elisabeth Hope Murray, who dedicated the event to the late professor Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian.

Institute Director Dr. Shushan Karapetian presented her work titled “No Longer Post-Genocide: Claiming Armenian as Act of Resistance.”

Institute’s Chitjian Researcher Archivist Gegham Mughnetsyan presented his work titled “Armenian Displaced Persons: From Displacement to a Diaspora Community.”

Institute Project Manager Manuk Avedikyan organized and presented on “Armenian Genocide Oral History Collection in North America During the 1970s”.

The Institute led a group of international genocide scholars on an excursion to the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Memorial Monument, lunch at the Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, a tour of Abril Bookstore, Glendale Central Library’s ReflectSpace Gallery exhibit “Before, After: Reflections on the Armenian Genocide” and Urartu Cafe for Armenian coffee.

Then, the Institute opened its doors for an archives visit. Gegham Mughnetsyan showcased various items from the Institute’s collection to scholars and conference participants interested in archival collections. Visitors learned about the origins and histories of various items, from rare books and maps to photographs, final records, and tapes, many of which were donated by Armenian survivor communities from Los Angeles and beyond.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE:

How does our choice of language shape our understanding of history? What power do words hold in defining our past and current events? Join Dr. K and Dr. Vartan Matiossian, author of The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide, as they delve into the geneology, etymology, and chronology of Medz Yeghern - the Armenian term for the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian ethno-religious group in the Ottoman Empire between the years 1915-1923. They discuss how the politics of naming the Armenian genocide have been navigated in academic, political, and social spheres, particularly as Armenians struggled for international recognition in the face of Turkish denial. They unpack the use, misuse, and abuse of Medz Yeghern as a reflection on the weight of language choice in shaping historical narratives and collective memory.

‎Language Therapy with Dr. K: Medz Yeghern: The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Language Therapy with Dr. K, Ep Medz Yeghern: The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide - Apr 26, 2024

Institute was honored by the City of Los Angeles during its Armenian American Heritage Month celebration, “for its invaluable research exploring social, cultural and political challenges facing the Armenian people in their historic homelands and throughout the Diaspora”.

In continuing the celebration of the first–ever Armenian History month at USC, on April 17, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies and USC Armenian Students’ Association in partnership with Bars Media and Zoryan Institute, hosted a theatrical screening and panel discussion of the animated documentary film Aurora’s Sunrise.

Co-sponsored by the Armenian Film Society and USC School of Cinematic Arts, the event brought together a diverse audience of students and community members.

Inna Sahakyan, award-winning writer, director, and producer of Aurora’s Sunrise, thanked audiences for their support and discussed the importance of the film in a video message.

After the screening, a thought provoking panel discussion was held with Dr. Shushan Karapetian; Ted Braun, USC Joseph Campell Endowed Chair in Cinematic Ethics; Armen Karaoghlanian, co-founder of Armenian Film Society; and Dr. Myrna Douzjian, Lecturer of Armenian Studies, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at UC Berkeley.

Thank you Araksya Karapetyan for this beautiful coverage of the inaugural Armenian History Month at USC!

USC celebrates Armenian History Month

What an unforgettable start to Armenian History Month at USC! 🎉 The opening ceremony, featuring USC President Carol Folt; Dr. Shushan Karapetian, Director of the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies; and Mane Berikyan, Vice-President of the USC Armenian Students’ Association, was truly inspiring. The fantastic performance by the Lernazang Ensemble had us all on our feet, dancing to the rhythms of Armenian music. And let’s not forget the delicious spread of traditional Armenian cuisine from Kozanian Ranch Market and the beautiful antique rug display showcasing the diverse patterns and designs of Armenian carpets and rugs—courtesy of Silk Road Rug Inc. 🇦🇲

On Thursday, March 28, UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Irvine, Dr. Jennifer Manoukian, will give a special lecture that traces the history of three enduring concerns about the Armenian language and looks at the various strategies that Armenians have used in the past to quell them.

This lecture is co-sponsored by the USC Department of Linguistics and the USC Center for Languages and Cultures.
The event is free of charge and open to the public. Please RSVP to attend.
https://forms.gle/8qTavcESWxk7j67F6

When: Thursday, March 28 at 4 PM

Where: USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, DMC 351
3518 Trousdale PKWY, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Parking: McCarthy Way Parking Structure
620 USC McCarthy Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Discover the vibrant world of Armenian Studies this Fall 2024 and satisfy your Dornsife elective requirements by enrolling in MDA 333 - Colloquium in Armenian Studies: Social and Cultural Issues.

Taught by Institute director, Dr. Shushan Karapetian, this 2-unit course held on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:50 PM, offers a unique platform to engage with cutting-edge research and discussion surrounding the Armenian experience.
Make sure to add MDA 333 to your class schedule for Fall 2024 and expand your academic horizons!

There are no prerequisites. Knowledge of Armenian language or history is not required.

Mark your calendars!
On Tuesday, March 26, at 4pm, join us at the Institute for a talk and discussion with Dr. Talar Chahinian about her book STATELESS: THE POLITICS OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN EXILE

On February 27, Dr. Gayane Shagoyan presented a talk at the Institute on Commemoration Practices of Stalin-era Repressions in Post-Soviet Armenia

Dr. Gayane Shagoyan is a senior researcher at the Department of Cultural Anthropology of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. She has authored over 90 publications, including “Seven Days and Seven Nights: Panorama of the Armenian Wedding” (2011, Yerevan: “Gitutyun,” 618 p., in Armenian), and co-author of “Stalin Era Repressions in Armenia: History, Memory, and Daily Life” (Yerevan: “Gitutyun,” 2015, 440 p., in Armenian).

Watch the lecture here: https://youtu.be/Dxe8gYMlaA0?si=ukCXR-W95Jyw86pN

On February 22-24 the groundbreaking three-day conference took place at the USC School of Cinematic Arts about legendary filmmaker and visionary Sergei Parajanov in honor of what would have been his 100th birthday.

Leading scholars from around the world dove deep into Parajanov’s films, art, and legacy, as well as experiences of Soviet-era repression. In addition to several keynote addresses, panels featured themes on “Crossings in Time and Space,” “Presence and Absence,” “Sensory Engagement,” “Politics and Violence,” and “Performance and Performativity.” Discussions ranged from the very practical concerns related to the restoration and preservation of his work to nuanced and thorough examinations of his films and art from various disciplines and perspectives.

Stretching the boundaries of the traditional academic conference, Parajanov at One Hundred: Chimeras of Nation, Form, and Being included a hat-making workshop for panelists, deep dialogue about contemporary research on the filmmaker and his films, an exhibit of rare photos of Parajanov from the Parajanov Museum in Armenia, and standing-room-only film screenings.

Special Lectures by Leading Anthropologists from Armenia
Gayane Shagoyan and Levon Abrahamian at USC
February 27 and February 29!

The lectures will take place at the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. They are free of charge and open to the public.

Dr. Shagoyan is a senior researcher at the Department of Cultural Anthropology of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. She has authored over 90 publications, including “Seven Days and Seven Nights: Panorama of the Armenian Wedding” (2011, Yerevan: “Gitutyun,” 618 p., in Armenian), and co-author of “Stalin Era Repressions in Armenia: History, Memory, and Daily Life” (Yerevan: “Gitutyun,” 2015, 440 p., in Armenian).

Dr. Abrahamian is a cultural anthropologist and heads the Department of Cultural Anthropology at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. He is the author of more than 150 articles and five books, including Armenian Folk Arts, Culture, and Identity (co-editor: Nancy Sweezy, 2001) and Armenian Identity in a Changing World (2006). His research focuses on ancient and modern Armenia and Armenians, including identity, comparative mythology, rituals, urban anthropology and the cultures of Australia and Oceania.

The final program is here for the SERGEI PARAJANOV AT ONE HUNDRED conference which starts on Thursday, February 22nd!

Don’t forget to RSVP, add this to your calendar and join us at USC this weekend for all the screenings and presentations honoring the work of the visionary artist Sergei Parajanov!

https://armenian.usc.edu/preliminary-program-sergei-parajanov/

Language Therapy with Dr. K: It takes a village to raise a language: The Case of Western Armenian How did a historian and political scientist become the force behind the largest institutional revitalization of Western Armenian in our time? What does it mean for a language to be endangered? How can a grant making institution foster the environments and resources to promote a diasporic language? J...