Public lecture, "Charents and Revolution" and Screening of "Charents: In Search of My Armenian Poet" and
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
12:00 AM
1636 International Institute/SSWB, 1080 S. University
“Charents and Revolution”
The theme of revolution is a central theme in the poetry of Yeghishe Charents, which earned him the reputation in Armenian literature as a poet of revolution. This lecture will develop the discourse of revolution in the works of the poet going beyond the conventional discussion of the events of October Revolution and Russian Civil War. Professor Yeghiazaryan argues that for Charents and a number of writers of his generation revolution did not only mark the end of social and economic problems, but it also set the beginning and formation of a new “humanistic civilization.” For Charents the future was more important than the present, thus the humanistic aspect of revolution was more essential for him and for his vision of the future. His poems reflect his contradictory standpoint of Soviet reality and his disappointment in it, on the one hand, and his optimistic belief in the future and in the ideas the revolution embodied.
Professor Azat Yeghiazaryan has been Chair of the Armenian Language and Literature Department at the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University in Yerevan since 2008. Prior to this appointment, he was the director of the Manuk Abeghyan Institute of Literature at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. He has authored several monographs including Literary Narrative: A Theoretical Review (1986), Tumanyan's Poetics and its Popular Roots (1990), Daredevils of Sasun: Poetics of an Epic (1999), in English (2008), The Organ of History: Yeghishe Charentc (2007). He is the founder of «Handes» journal.
“Charents: In Search of My Armenian Poet” explores the life and work of one of Armenia's best-loved poets, Yeghishe Charents, who was tragically killed in a Stalinist prison in 1937 under mysterious circumstances. This literary travelogue takes viewers on a journey from Armenia to the poet's birthplace in Kars, Turkey, with Krikor Babakhanyan - a poet in his own right - who, with his friend and historian Volodya Arushanyan set off to discover Charents' birth home in Kars. Travelling through Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey, Krikor and Volodya make new acquaintances that share their enthusiasm for Charents' poetry. Along their path, the inimitable beauty of the Caucasian mountainous landscape is revealed. Weaving in between Krikor's journey to the poet's birthplace are stylized readings of Charents' poems and interviews with experts and ordinary people, creating a fascinating narrative of the poet's life and works. Director: Shareen Anderson.
The theme of revolution is a central theme in the poetry of Yeghishe Charents, which earned him the reputation in Armenian literature as a poet of revolution. This lecture will develop the discourse of revolution in the works of the poet going beyond the conventional discussion of the events of October Revolution and Russian Civil War. Professor Yeghiazaryan argues that for Charents and a number of writers of his generation revolution did not only mark the end of social and economic problems, but it also set the beginning and formation of a new “humanistic civilization.” For Charents the future was more important than the present, thus the humanistic aspect of revolution was more essential for him and for his vision of the future. His poems reflect his contradictory standpoint of Soviet reality and his disappointment in it, on the one hand, and his optimistic belief in the future and in the ideas the revolution embodied.
Professor Azat Yeghiazaryan has been Chair of the Armenian Language and Literature Department at the Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University in Yerevan since 2008. Prior to this appointment, he was the director of the Manuk Abeghyan Institute of Literature at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. He has authored several monographs including Literary Narrative: A Theoretical Review (1986), Tumanyan's Poetics and its Popular Roots (1990), Daredevils of Sasun: Poetics of an Epic (1999), in English (2008), The Organ of History: Yeghishe Charentc (2007). He is the founder of «Handes» journal.
“Charents: In Search of My Armenian Poet” explores the life and work of one of Armenia's best-loved poets, Yeghishe Charents, who was tragically killed in a Stalinist prison in 1937 under mysterious circumstances. This literary travelogue takes viewers on a journey from Armenia to the poet's birthplace in Kars, Turkey, with Krikor Babakhanyan - a poet in his own right - who, with his friend and historian Volodya Arushanyan set off to discover Charents' birth home in Kars. Travelling through Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey, Krikor and Volodya make new acquaintances that share their enthusiasm for Charents' poetry. Along their path, the inimitable beauty of the Caucasian mountainous landscape is revealed. Weaving in between Krikor's journey to the poet's birthplace are stylized readings of Charents' poems and interviews with experts and ordinary people, creating a fascinating narrative of the poet's life and works. Director: Shareen Anderson.
