InternationalBoston University hosts conference on Armenian Diaspora
Published: Monday February 08, 2010
Professor Simon Payaslian.
Boston - History, culture, and identity were the focus of over thirty scholars gathered at Boston University to participate in the "International Conference & Student Workshop on the Armenian Diaspora."
The conference, organized by Dr. Simon Payaslian, took place from February 12 to 14 and was co-sponsored by the Charles K. and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature at Boston University, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and the International Institute for Diaspora Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute).
"Armenian diasporan communities emerged over centuries as a result of voluntary migration and forced displacement in times of military conflicts, the Genocide during WWI, and economic and political crises," explained Dr. Payaslian in his opening remarks.
"We are thrilled that this conference has brought together scholars to present their new research on the Armenian diaspora and to explore the evolution of Armenian diasporan communities and stimulate analyses of current issues," he added.
The three-day conference was exceptional, in that the participants who came from Armenia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Romania, and the United States, could not recall another academic conference of such size, diversity and scope.
The presentations covered a wide array of topics in the broad field of Diaspora Studies. Panels dealt with the following themes: Transnationalism, Nationalism & Conflict; Diasporic Identity; Human Rights & Genocide; Diasporic Identities and Community Building; Diaspora and Cultural Development; Narrativization of Diasporic Belongingness and Revival; Armenian Repatriations; The Desnelle Collective (contemporary artists in various media); Culture & Economy in Diasporan Communities; Transdisciplinarity of Diaspora Studies; and Diasporan Ethno-nationalism & Transnationalism.
The first day of the conference represented the work of young, up-and-coming scholars. Their level of expertise and dedication to the subject promise a bright future for Armenian Diaspora Studies. The number of scholars working in the field and the variety of their subjects was also a revelation to many, as before this conference they were not aware of each other's work in this field.
Particularly enjoyed at the conference was a session entitled "The Desnelle Collective," which included papers and presentations about the Armenian Diaspora through various art forms, including video, the book, performance art and painting, along with analytical discussions. Discussant David Kazanjian from the University of Pennsylvania described the session as "a breath of fresh air in which I am exalted to step."
Summing up the success of the event Dr. Payaslian explained there is still a lot of work to be done. "As a first step, it is necessary to expand the temporal and spatial parameters of Armenian Diaspora Studies, to integrate theoretical and empirical, qualitative and quantitative approaches," he stated in his closing remarks.
"There are other topics that Armenian Diaspora Studies must consider that are extremely important and necessary, such as the study of community leadership, and the study of the role, place, significance and impact of at least four major institutions which include: political parties, the church, the media and schools," Dr. Payaslian concluded.
Details about each of the participants and their presentations, including photos from the conference, are available at www.diasporastudies.org.
The International Institute for Diaspora Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) is dedicated to the study and dissemination of knowledge regarding the phenomenon of diaspora. The Institute investigates the character, capacity and concerns of diasporan communities, as both domestic and international actors, and promotes a deeper understanding of diasporas, transnational immigration networks and their impact on both home and host countries.
Since 1991, Zoryan's pioneering Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, under the editorship of Prof. Khachig Tololyan, has played a leading role in directing the discussion in an interdisciplinary and comparative manner. For more information please contact the Zoryan Institute by email zoryan@zoryaninstitute.org or telephone (416) 250-9807.
Friday Program
The student workshop will take place on Friday, February 12, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at The Castle, 225 Bay State Road, Boston University.
The workshop is sponsored by the Charles K. and Elisabeth M. KenosianChair in Modern Armenian History and Literature, and the International Institute for Diaspora Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute).
Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Session 1. Diasporic Identities and Community-building
Chair & discussant: SIMON PAYASLIAN (BOSTON UNIVERSITY)
Presenters:
CYNTHIA OLIPHANT (CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO) "The Effect of Organizational Structure on the Diaspora Experience"
ANNA HARUTYUNYAN (FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN, INSTITUTE OF ETHNOLOGY) "Challenging the Theory of Diaspora from the Field"
HAKEM RUSTOM (LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS) "The 'Others' of the Diaspora: Armenian Migration from Anatolia to France"
Lunch, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Friday, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Session 2. Diaspora and Cultural Development
Chair: BEDROSS DER MATOSSIAN (MIT)
Presenters:
LILIT KESHISHYAN (UCLA) "Wandering as Rule: The Diasporic Subject in Vahe Berberian's Namakner Zaataren"
MARIE-BLANCHE FOURCADE (UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL) "Heritage Challenges in Diaspora: How to Preserve, to Share and toPass Down? The Case Study of the Quebec Armenian Community"
STEPHANIE STOCKDALE (THUNDERBIRD SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT) "Cultural & Social Factors of the Armenian and Jewish Diasporas of Argentina: A Comparative Study"
Discussant: KEVORK BARDAKJIAN (UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR)
Break, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Session 3. Transnationalism, Nationalism, and Conflict
Chair: RICHARD G. HOVANNISIAN (UCLA)
Presenters:
STEPAN STEPANYAN (FLETCHER SCHOOL OF LAW AND DIPLOMACY, TUFTS UNIVERSITY) "The Armenian Community of Georgia as a Factor of Security in the South Caucasus Region"
ANUSH BEZHANYAN (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA) "Iraqi Armenians after the Toppling of Saddam Hussein: Emigration or Repatriation
KATHERINE CASEY (UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO) "Agree to Disagree: The Incompatible Nationalisms of Armenia and Its Diaspora
LORAND POOSZ (BOLYAI UNIVERSITY) "Data Concerning the Transylvanian Armenian Community's Response tothe Armenian Genocide"
Discussant: ASBED KOTCHIKIAN (BENTLEY UNIVERSITY)
Saturday-Sunday Program
The conference will take place on Saturday, February 13, from 9:00 a.m.to 6:30 p.m., and on Sunday, February 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.On both days the conference will be held at the School of Management, Auditorium-Room 105, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston University.
The conference is sponsored by the Charles K. and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature, the International Institute for Diaspora Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute), and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, Belmont, MA.
Saturday Program
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Session 4. Diasporic Identity, Human Rights, and Genocide
Chair: SIMON PAYASLIAN (BOSTON UNIVERSITY)
Presenters:
NANOR KEBRANIAN (KENDERIAN) (COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY) "Can the Armenian Diaspora Speak? Diasporic Identity in the Shadow ofHuman Rights"
JOYCE APSEL (NEW YORK UNIVERSITY) "Teaching the Armenian Genocide in North America: New Resources, Programs, and Integration within Genocide Studies"
RUBINA PEROOMIAN (UCLA) "The Third-Generation Armenian-American Writers Echo the Quest for Self-Identity with the Genocide at Its Core"
Discussant: GEORGE SHIRINIAN (ZORYAN INSTITUTE)
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Session 5. Narrativization of Diasporic Belongingness and Revival
Chair: MARC MAMIGONIAN (NAASR)
Presenters:SUSAN PATTIE (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON) "Constructing Narratives of Belonging among Armenians in the Diaspora"
SEBOUH ASLANIAN (CORNELL UNIVERSITY) "Networks of Circulation, Patronage, and 'National Revival': The Armenian Translation of Charles Rollin's History of Rome"
SONA HAROUTYUNIAN (CA' FOSCARI UNIVERSITY OF VENICE) "Vittoria Aganoor's Alter Ego"
Discussant: KHACHIG TÖLÖLYAN (WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY)
Lunch, 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Session 6. Armenian Repatriations 1946-1949: Contexts, Experiences, Aftermaths
Chair & Discussant: SUSAN PATTIE (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON)
Presenters: SEVAN YOUSEFIAN (UCLA) "Picnics for Repatriates"
ASTRIG ATAMIAN (INALCO, PARIS) "Armenia, here we come! The French Armenian Communists during the Repatriations"
KARI NEELY (MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY) "Kevork Ajemian's Use of Middle Eastern Armenian Repatriation in 'A Perpetual Path' "
Break, 3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Session 7. Desnelle Collective
Chair: HRAYR ANMAHOUNI/EULMESSEKIAN (LA CRESCENTA, CA)
Presenters:
HELIN ANAHIT (MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY, LONDON) "Diaspora Landscapes as a Thought Model"
EMILY ARTINIAN (CHELSEA COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN, LONDON) "From Ararat to Anywhere?"
CHRISTOPHER ATAMIAN (NEW YORK) "Thinking the Past: Restorative and Reflective Nostalgia in Frounze Dovlatian's 'Garod' "
CHARLES GAROIAN (PENN STATE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS)"Scattered Flesh / Tservadz Mort"
NEERY MELKONIAN (NEW YORK) "A Feminism that is Often Accented, Sometimes Whispers, Even Stutters: Modern and Contemporary Armenian Women Artists in Transnational Contexts"
ABELINA GALUSTIAN (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA) "The Substance of Orientalism in Visual Representation"
Discussant: DAVID KAZANJIAN (UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA)
Sunday Program
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Session 8. Culture & Economy in Diasporan Communities
Chair: GEORGE SHIRINIAN (ZORYAN INSTITUTE)
Presenters:AIDA BOUDJIKANIAN (MONTREAL) "The Armenian Jewelers' Niche of Montreal: Between a Local Trait and an Armenian Diasporic Tradition"
GREGORY AFTANDILIAN (WASHINGTON, DC) "Re-cementing Kinship Ties: Armenian-American Soldiers and the French Armenian Community during World War II"
PHILIPPE VIDELIER (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, LYONS) "Armenians and Turks in France Confronting the Genocide"
MATTHIAS FRITZ (STATE LINGUISTIC V. BRUSOV UNIVERSITY, YEREVAN) "The Evolution of the Armenian Diaspora in Germany during the Past Two Decades"
Discussant: MARC MAMIGONIAN (NAASR)
Lunch, 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Session 9. Transdisciplinarity of Diaspora Studies
Chair: RICHARD G. HOVANNISIAN (UCLA)
Presenters: DANIEL DOUGLAS AND ANNY BAKALIAN (CUNY) "Armenians in the United States: A Quantitative Analysis Using the American Community Survey"
CAREL BERTRAM (SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY) "Diasporic Armenians as Pilgrims to Their Family Towns and Villages"
JOAN BAMBERGER (ANTHROPOLOGIST, WATERTOWN, MA) "Re-Generation of Armenian Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts"
NIKOL MARGARYAN (YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY) "Anthroponyms in the Context of Ethnic Identity"
Discussant: KHACHIG TÖLÖLYAN (WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY)
Break, 3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, 3:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Session 10. Diasporan Ethnonationalism andTransnationalism
Chair: ASBED KOTCHIKIAN (BENTLEY UNIVERSITY)
Presenters:
ARA SANJIAN (UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN) "Limits of Conflict and Consensus among Lebanese-Armenian Political Factions in the Early 21st Century"
VARTAN MATIOSSIAN (HOVNANIAN SCHOOL, NEW JERSEY) "Domino Effect: U.S. Immigration Policies and the Formation of the Armenian Communities in Latin America"
OHANNES GEUKJIAN (AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT) "Armenia-Diaspora Intransigence in Light of Armenian-Turkish Relations and the Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict, 1991-Present"
Discussant: BEDROSS DER MATOSSIAN (MIT)
Both the workshop and the conference are open to the public, andadmission is free.
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognizedinstitution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes that are central to the school's research and teaching mission.
(617) 353-8313, payas@bu.edu
