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U of Michigan Press Release- Diaspora lectures viewable online

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  • U of Michigan Press Release- Diaspora lectures viewable online

    PRESS RELEASE
    Armenian Studies Program
    University of Michigan
    Ingrid Peterson Administrator
    1080 S. University, Suite 3633
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
    Phone: 734.763.0622; Fax: 734.763.4918
    email: [email protected]
    http://ii.umich.edu/asp



    Armenian Studies Program Focuses on Diaspora
    Lectures given by visiting scholars culminates in diaspora roundtable

    ANN ARBOR, MICH., December 18, 2009-
    While the Armenian Studies Program at the University of Michigan (UM)
    does not have official theme terms, this past term could be
    unofficially named a diaspora term, with five related lectures
    culminating in a roundtable discussion. All six events will be posted
    on the Armenian Studies Program website (www.umich.edu/~iinet/asp/)
    either in the form of a video or audio recording with accompanying
    PowerPoint presentation. These events have been a product of research
    and collaboration of three Manoogian Simone Foundation Fellows;
    Visiting Scholar Susan Pattie, Pre-doctoral Fellow Lucila Tossounian,
    and Post-doctoral Fellow Sarah Mekdjian.
    As a Visiting Scholar with the Armenian Studies Program and
    anthropology, Ms. Susan Pattie Ph.D. returned to her alma mater to
    continue her research as well as teach undergraduate and graduate
    level courses, "Telling Lives: Ethnography, Memoir and Oral History in
    Diaspora" and "Embodied Identities: Ethnicity and the Senses,
    respectively. On Monday October 26th she presented a public lecture
    entitled "Imagining Homelands, Performing History: Poetry and
    Performance Among Cypriot Armenians." In this lecture Pattie showed
    how in the 20th century twin symbols for martyrdom/loss and
    regeneration appeared in poetry and song as a way for Armenian
    communities to create
    a new image of themselves. On November 18th, Ms. Pattie also
    presented a talk sponsored by the Armenian Research Center at the
    University of Michigan-Dearborn entitled "Food, Culture, and Identity:
    An Illustrated Talk about Armenian Food traditions." This talk
    explored ways in which Armenians
    create and maintain identity through hospitality and food and how
    Armenian
    food traditions have changed considerably over time and around the
    world.
    Ms. Lucila Tossounian of Argentina and Ph.D. candidate in
    anthropology at the University of Buenos Aires presented "Armenians in
    Argentina: The
    reinvention of Homeland(s)" on Monday November 9th which was
    co-sponsored by the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies at
    the U of M. This lecture looks at the development of the Armenian
    community in Argentina and the affects of Armenian's independence from
    the Soviet regime had on Argentine Armenians. Ms. Tossounian also
    presented a talk for the Armenian Research Center on December 15th
    entitled "Genocide and Memories of the Armenian Diaspora in
    Argentina." Drawing from the Argentinean experience of the military
    dictatorships and the 'desaparecidos' (the disappeared), Tossounian
    analyzes how the Argentinean national response created a human rights
    rhetoric
    that offered the Armenian community spaces to bring awareness to the
    genocide commemoration. Ms. Tossounian's research focuses on Armenian
    communities in Argentina, which she has been studying since
    1999. Ms. Tossounian is also co-director of The Armenian Genocide:
    Ways of Transmission and Ways of Action research group at the
    University of Buenos Aires.
    Ms. Sarah Mekdjian Ph.D. of Paris successfully defended her
    Ph.D. dissertation in Geography at the University of Paris X Nanterre
    in November 2009 receiving the highest honors. Her thesis is entitled
    "From the Enclave to the Urban Kaleidoscope: Los Angeles in the prism
    of the Armenian Immigration". On Monday, November 23rd Ms. Mekdjian
    gave a lecture entitled "A Critical Reading of the Elite/Mass Model:
    Towards Democracy in the Armenian Diaspora." Using the example of the
    Armenian diasporic communities in Los Angeles to illustrate dynamics
    and limits of an "elite/mass" model, Mekdjian shows that the diasporic
    institutions use this construct as a strategy to maintain their power
    and legitimacy. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan
    (U of M), Ms. Mekdjian continues to explore the impact of immigration
    on major American cities, comparing the Los Angeles and Detroit
    metropolitan areas. She will be teaching a course during the Winter
    semester entitled "Immigrants and place in contemporary urban America".
    On December 7th the Armenian Studies Program presented "Studying the
    Armenian Diaspora," a roundtable discussion drawing on the work of
    these three scholars. Additionally, the roundtable was moderated by
    Prof. Khachig Tololyan Ph.D., Professor of English at Wesleyan
    University and editor of Diaspora Journal. Ms. Pattie presented on
    "Diasporas of Diasporas: the Importance of Polycentric Research." The
    second presentation by Ms. Mekdjian, "The Challenge of Distance and
    Dispersion: Making Sense of the Global and Local." Ms. Tossounian shed
    light on the perspective of the academic, making the researcher's
    experience the subject of study with "The Outsider/Insider:
    Doing Fieldwork as a 'Native Anthropologist' in Diaspora."
    Prof. Tololyan brought these presentations together drawing from his
    vast expertise before opening to questions. Recordings of these events
    are accessible on the ASP website under the category of 'Events and
    Programs' through links by event title.

    Armenian Studies Program
    The University of Michigan's Armenian Studies Program promotes the
    study of Armenian history, culture, and society. A member of the
    University of Michigan International Institute, the program organizes
    educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community.
    For more information, contact the Armenian Studies Program at (734)
    763-0622 or visit www.umich.edu/~iinet/asp/.

    University of Michigan International Institute
    The University of Michigan International Institute houses 18 centers
    and programs focused on world regions and global themes. The institute
    develops and supports international teaching, research, and public
    affairs programs to promote global understanding across the campus and
    to build connections with intellectuals and institutions
    worldwide. For more information, visit www.ii.umich.edu. ###
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