Author and host: HaykHambardzumyan
TOPIC hosts men of culture, clergymen, renowned filmmakers and actors, Armenian and foreign scientists, scholars of Armenian studies, young specialists, writers and journalists residing in and outside Armenia.
How much do the contemporary Armenian art and literature relate to the development trends of world art? What new Armenian studies are currently underway in Armenia and Diaspora? Does the modern art educate or it rather entertains? These and other questions are voiced and answered in the pavilion of TOPIC.
Frequency: Every Friday, at 21:50
Rerun: Saturday, at 13:30
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Compositions of Modern Armenian Composers in Armenia and Abroad
Classic concerts are organized in Yerevan not so seldom, there are also a number of music festivals. Yet it’s hard to say how often do these concerts and festival feature the compositions of modern Armenian composers’ works. More often we come across with the performances of our composer’s works abroad, job offers outside Armenian etc. Why is it so, why is the art of modern composers more interesting aborad, how should this area be regulated?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with composer, piano Artur Avanesov.
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New Reality, Old Higher Education System
Education criteria and teaching methods are changing rapidly in the world. The higher education concept has been entirely changed, while Armenia seems to stick to the old principles. Is our higher education system ready for changes, who and how should bring these changes into reality?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with education expert Serob Khachatryan.
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They were Shooting the War
From the very first days of Artsakh war, a number of journalists, cameramen and directors were also in the front line. Many of them held weapon along with the camera, some of them died. It is due to their work that today we are able to get an understanding of Artsakh freedom war, certain heros with the help of documentaries. Who were the directors present in the war, what is the face of war like from the opposite side of the camera, is he/she capable of being objective and present the war as a universal evil?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with journalist Ruzanna Bagratunyan.
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Diaspora: Definitions and Characteristics
The term “Diaspora” is characterised with the concepts of dissemination, painful national memory, collective identity, loyalty to historical motherland etc. Yet, all these different definitions cannot fully exhaust this capacious concept, since the communities, the reasons for leaving the country, living conditions of new places and the mechanisms of preservation of identity are all different. What are the characteristics by which contemporary Diaspora studies are lead, when are the diasporas born and when do they die, what conditions are required to sustain their existence? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with Vahe Sahakyan, specialist in Diaspora studies.
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Changing Diasoras and Identities
Modern studies of Diaspora proves that there phenomenon of Diaspora has three key characteristics – dispersion at leas in two directions, presence of the connection with imaginary or real motherland, and realization of their identity as a Diaspora. How are the diasporas changing over time, how do these changes affect the identity, what methodologies are there for exploring through various issues concerning Diaspora? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with Vahe Sahakyan, specialist in Diaspora studies.
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Architecture Binnale
“Yerevan Architecture Binnale 2016” was opened in Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture. The issues related to contemporary Armenian architecture and urban planning are under public scrutiny always, almost every day you get a new coverage on constructions which are demolished, those erected in their stead, or ones that fully deface the overall image of the capital. What projects did the binnale participants present, how do the Armenian and foreign architects see the present and future of our architecture? Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these questions with Anush Ter-Minasyan, Director of Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture.
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Armenian Rock: Sources and Messages of Inspiration
“Feel the Music, Feel the Drive”: three-day international Music Drive Festival was launched in Yerevan under this motto. The festival will feature some twenty local and foreign bands performing in vatious music genres. Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about the festival and the current issues and messages of the Armenian rock music with Vardan Grigoryan, Chairman of Armenian Rock Association.
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Charents – of the Museum
Modern museum-house is not only a venue of preservation and exhibition of artifacts, but also a multifaceted cultural environment with museum, scientific, cognitive and entertainment functions. This week Yeghishe Charents turned 120. Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about the presentation and proclamation of poet’s compositions with Anahit Asatryan, the Director of Yeghishe Charents Museum-House.
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Isahakyan in Letters
The letters of writers usually published in the final volumes of the complete collections of their writings, and more seldom – in separate collectiosn, can interest not only literary critics- text specialists, but also wider circles of society. The letters allow observing the author in the real life and cross-check his/her literature against his/her biography and the opposite. However, we’re often confronted with the question of how decent is it to publish intimate letters, and how does it contribute to getting to know the writer?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with journalist Lilit Avagyan.
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Current Issues related to the Study and Publication of Monuscripts
The rich manuscript heritage reserved in Matenadaran (Manuscript Library) and other collections is not only something to exhibit and be proud of, but also in need of new studies and publishing. What studies of manuscripts are currently underway, how are the results of these studies used in Armenian studies, what are the current issues in the publication of scientific research originals?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with the Head of Department of Manuscript Studies and Depositories, PhD in History Gevorg Ter-Vardanyan.
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Stalin Repressions in Armenia
Few families can be found in Armenia who didn’t suffer this way or another from Stalin repressions, yet not many studies exist on these issues, especially such important issue as the moral-psychological atmosphere then, the attitude of those repressed toward the persons involved in political persecution and the system itself. Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with ethnographer Harutyun Marutyan.
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Charles Aznavour, Saved Jews and French Resistence
How did Aznavourian family participate in the salvation of Jews during the World War II, and what was their relation with Missak Manouchian, the national hero of France? What is the reason for all of these to be disclosed in the book written by a Jewish scholar?
Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with the Director of Tchobanian Institute in Paris Varoujan Sirapian.
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