Hye Sharzhoom

              December 2006 • Vol. 28, No. 2 (96)

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 Stories

Society for Armenian Studies Holds 32nd Annual Meeting in Boston-Academic Panels Explore Armenian Literature, Armenian Press, and Global Trade Networks

Reception at Holy Etchmiadzin for Publication of Armenian Version of Album of Armenian Paleography

Dr. Levon Chookaszian Leads Audience in Journey Through Armenian Art

Cineculture Series Features Armenian Films

Tom Bozigian To Continue Tradition of Armenian Dance at Fresno State, February 2 and 3, 2007

Der Mugrdechian Presents Armenians of Fresno

Heirs of Armenian Genocide Victims Receive Almost $8 Million Dollars from the New York Life Settlement

Rafael Atoian's "Motherland" Exhibit at Fresno State President's Gallery November 2-30

Kazan Visiting Professor Levon Chookaszian Gives His Second Lecture On Armenian Art

Element Band Brings New Energy to Traditional Armenian Music

Armenchik's Performance Exceeds All Expectations in Los Angeles Concert

New ASO Executive Begins Year

Armenian Origins

The 9th International Armenia Fund Telethon Raises $13.7 Million

Eench ga Chga?

Armenians on the Internet

Cineculture Series Features Armenian Films

STAFF WRITER

Left to Right: Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Vickie Smith-Foston, Bernadette Moordigian, Dr. Matthew Jendian.


Fresno State's weekly Cineculture Film Series spotlighted films with an Armenian theme on Friday, October 20. In addition, four panelists were invited to comment on the films shown and to answer questions raised by the audience.


Special guest speaker Vickie Smith-Foston of Sacramento joined Dr. Matthew Jendian (Sociology), Barlow Der Mugrdechian (Armenian Studies), and Fresno State graduate Bernadette Moordigian, to discuss and comment on the two featured films.


Araz Artinian's The Genocide in Me, and J. Michael Hagopian's California Armenians: The First Generation, were screened, with a question and answer period immediately following.


Dr. Jendian opened the evening with a power-point presentation, serving as an introduction to the films. He covered some early Armenian history, before focusing on the reasons why Armenians immigrated in great numbers to the United States, especially beginning in the late nineteenth century.


Vickie Smith-Foston is the author of Victoria's Secret: A Conspiracy of Silence, which documents her discovery of her grandmother's apparent identity crisis that led to her tragic suicide in the 1950s. Smith-Foston discussed the concept of identity and how being part Armenian had affected her own life.


Moordigian commented on her mixed Armenian and Mexican roots, and how ethnic identity had become a way for her to explore both sides of her heritage.


Der Mugrdechian responded to questions with comments on the Turkish government denial of the Armenian Genocide and how that denial had become part of Turkey's international foreign policy.


Many of the questions from the audience were about the current situation in Armenia, while others were about the Armenian Genocide and the current efforts to pass Genocide resolutions in various countries.


Denise Blum (Curriculum and Instruction) is the coordinator for the Cineculture Film Series, whose purpose is to promote cultural awareness and address diversity issues through film and post-screening discussions.