ararat anna, emily, honda, julie. outline i. introduction a. armenian genocide b. atom egoyan c....
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OutlineOutlineI.I. IntroductionIntroduction
A.A. Armenian genocideArmenian genocide
B.B. Atom EgoyanAtom Egoyan
C.C. StructureStructure
D.D. ThemeTheme
II.II. AnalysisAnalysis
A.A. CharactersCharacters
B.B. Parallel—family relationParallel—family relation
1.1. Ani & RaffiAni & Raffi
2.2. Gorky & his motherGorky & his mother
3.3. David & PhilipDavid & Philip
C.C. TraumaTrauma
1.1. Personal traumaPersonal trauma
2.2. Historical traumaHistorical trauma
D.D. Retelling historyRetelling history
E.E. SymbolSymbol
III.III. ConclusionConclusion
IntroductionIntroduction Armenian genocide (1915-1917 / WWI)Armenian genocide (1915-1917 / WWI)
Armenians became the only major Christian Armenians became the only major Christian
minority and call for independence minority and call for independence
Turks killed millions of Turks killed millions of ArmeniansArmenians
Historical, cultural and political conditionsHistorical, cultural and political conditions
led to this tragedy led to this tragedy
Turkey Turkey deniesdenies the word “ the word “genocide” and gives genocide” and gives
some excusessome excuses
AraratArarat Tragic historical event, Turkey in denial, Tragic historical event, Turkey in denial, people yearning for the truthpeople yearning for the truth
An Armenian director makes a film in An Armenian director makes a film in Toronto to represent the tragic historyToronto to represent the tragic history
From the fictional point of view of a genuine From the fictional point of view of a genuine historical figure, Gorkyhistorical figure, Gorky
Film named “Ararat” same as the movieFilm named “Ararat” same as the movie
Atom Egoyan (1960)Atom Egoyan (1960) Atom Egoyan (1960)Atom Egoyan (1960)
Director of Director of AraratArarat
Armenian-Canadian Armenian-Canadian
(Born in Egypt, immigrate to (Born in Egypt, immigrate to
Victoria, British Columbia )Victoria, British Columbia )
Son of Armenian refugees Son of Armenian refugees
Director, writer, editor, and producer Director, writer, editor, and producer
QuotationQuotation
““You can talk about Holocaust denial, but it's really You can talk about Holocaust denial, but it's really marginal for the most part. What is compelling about the marginal for the most part. What is compelling about the Armenian genocide, is how it has been forgotten.”Armenian genocide, is how it has been forgotten.” -- -- Atom EgoyanAtom Egoyan
Atom EgoyanAtom Egoyan Experience Experience
Reject his own ethnicity and reject to learn native Reject his own ethnicity and reject to learn native
language until college language until college
Begin to recognize Armenian identity/culture issueBegin to recognize Armenian identity/culture issue
ex. ex. Next of KinNext of Kin, , Calendar, AraratCalendar, Ararat
““Atom”Atom”
He was named “Atom” to mark the completion of He was named “Atom” to mark the completion of
Egypt's first nuclear reactorEgypt's first nuclear reactor
His parents expect him to be like an “atom” to His parents expect him to be like an “atom” to influence people influence people
StructureStructure
Framed as scenesFramed as scenes
Film-within-the-filmFilm-within-the-film
ThemeTheme
Historical traumaHistorical trauma
Family relationFamily relation
CharactersCharacters AniAni
An art historian and expert on GorkyAn art historian and expert on Gorky
Adviser on Saroyan's fictional filmAdviser on Saroyan's fictional film
Raffi’s motherRaffi’s mother
RaffiRaffi
Interrogated by Canada custom Interrogated by Canada custom
when he back from Turkeywhen he back from Turkey CeliaCelia
Raffi’s step-sister / crazy girlfriend Raffi’s step-sister / crazy girlfriend
who believes that Ani kills her fatherwho believes that Ani kills her father
Edward SaroyanEdward Saroyan
Director of the Director of the AraratArarat
in the film-within-the-filmin the film-within-the-film
His mother died in genocideHis mother died in genocide Gorky Gorky
Armenian refugeeArmenian refugee
painter / boy in the painting painter / boy in the painting
AliAli Turkish-Canadian actor Turkish-Canadian actor Playing an Playing an evil Turkish military officer evil Turkish military officer in Saroyan's film.in Saroyan's film.
DavidDavid Canadian customs officer Canadian customs officer Interrogated RaffiInterrogated Raffi whose son (Philip) is having awhose son (Philip) is having a homosexual relationship with Ali homosexual relationship with Ali
Ani & Raffi (1)Ani & Raffi (1)
The poem (foreshadowing)The poem (foreshadowing)Different interpretation between Ani & Raffi.Different interpretation between Ani & Raffi.
The girl is crazy/angry.The girl is crazy/angry.
A voyage of seeking passion.A voyage of seeking passion.
Taken out the heart, her mother saysTaken out the heart, her mother says““my poor boy, did you hurt yourself.”my poor boy, did you hurt yourself.”
Ani & Raffi (2)Ani & Raffi (2)
Raffi tries to find his origin (a voyage.)Raffi tries to find his origin (a voyage.)Through parentsThrough parentsMaking film for both Ani and himself. Making film for both Ani and himself.
Origin of what?Origin of what? Painting – sketch – photograph – art work.Painting – sketch – photograph – art work.
mediamediaThrough camera and art work.Through camera and art work.
The representation ofThe representation of the originthe origin..A connection with the past.A connection with the past.From history to the present. From history to the present.
Gorky & his motherGorky & his mother
Where Ani and Raffi’s Where Ani and Raffi’s relation extendrelation extend Ani was projected that Raffi Ani was projected that Raffi
would leave herwould leave her Projection not necessarily would Projection not necessarily would
cause confusion.cause confusion.
Gorky Gorky Develops sentiments through Develops sentiments through
the process of drawing.the process of drawing. A connection with the past.A connection with the past. RepetitionRepetition
Pencil -> oil -> erase.Pencil -> oil -> erase.
David & Philip (1)David & Philip (1)
As a Customs officer. (Value system)As a Customs officer. (Value system)Superintend Subjects simply as figures.Superintend Subjects simply as figures.
Pomegranate (film-maker.)Pomegranate (film-maker.)
Value systemValue systemCould understand what is tangible, but not feeling. Could understand what is tangible, but not feeling.
David & Philip (2)David & Philip (2)
The issue brought by The issue brought by
“Amen.”“Amen.” Religion, gender, and race.Religion, gender, and race.
Christianity.Christianity.
Homosexual.Homosexual.Toni
David
Issue
Lover
PhilipAli
David & Philip (3) David & Philip (3)
Raffi telling David his story.Raffi telling David his story. Through Words, tapes, journal.Through Words, tapes, journal.
David buys itDavid buys it Let him go, without punishment.Let him go, without punishment. Reminds him of Philip.Reminds him of Philip.
Develops toleranceDevelops tolerance Cans of film=heroin.Cans of film=heroin. Issue between Philip and him.Issue between Philip and him.
Gender, religion. Gender, religion.
Influence
Raffi
Tolerance
David
Philip
Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory
Defense mechanismsDefense mechanisms
-- The purpose of the Ego Defense The purpose of the Ego Defense Mechanisms is to protect the mind/self/ego Mechanisms is to protect the mind/self/ego from anxiety, social sanctions or to provide from anxiety, social sanctions or to provide a refuge from a situation with which one a refuge from a situation with which one cannot currently cope.cannot currently cope.
Traumatized Characters: Traumatized Characters: Celia & Gorky Celia & Gorky
Celia - death of her fatherCelia - death of her father “ “yours [father] died like a hero, mine yours [father] died like a hero, mine
died in a stupid accident, according to died in a stupid accident, according to
her [Ani]”her [Ani]”
blaming Ani: during the lecture, blaming Ani: during the lecture,
displacement of her trauma “hedisplacement of her trauma “he
needed to destroyed what he made” needed to destroyed what he made” (1:14:10)(1:14:10)
refusing to believe Ani’s explanationrefusing to believe Ani’s explanation(1:16:10) (1:16:10)
Ani: “Listen, I didn’t see him fall…”Ani: “Listen, I didn’t see him fall…”
intention to destroy the painting: intention to destroy the painting:
DisplacementDisplacement
Gorky Gorky
- survivor, witness of the war- survivor, witness of the war - the image of mother’s hands - the image of mother’s hands (18:00/22:40)(18:00/22:40)
- being silent, only communicate with the - being silent, only communicate with the paintingpainting
- wiping off his mother’s hands with his - wiping off his mother’s hands with his hands: from brush to hands hands: from brush to hands (16:52/1:25:40)(16:52/1:25:40)
- unfinished hands: opened wound- unfinished hands: opened wound
- the usage of oil paint: repetition - the usage of oil paint: repetition compulsioncompulsion
Historical Trauma: Historical Trauma: Traumatized Armenian PeopleTraumatized Armenian People
Women being rapedWomen being raped - little girl underneath her mother, holding - little girl underneath her mother, holding
hand in handhand in hand
German woman German woman (1:23:17)(1:23:17)
Disgrace of humanity: the war not only Disgrace of humanity: the war not only kills people but also kills human dignitykills people but also kills human dignity
Retelling HistoryRetelling History
““finding a way to articulate history, identifying what finding a way to articulate history, identifying what it means to you and what it might mean to others”it means to you and what it might mean to others”
Film within the filmFilm within the film
Representation of history/pastRepresentation of history/pastClarence Ussher ‘s journalClarence Ussher ‘s journalThe brutal scenesThe brutal scenes
Gorky in the filmGorky in the filma cruel jokea cruel jokea constructed imagea constructed image
Ararat/VanArarat/Vanpoetic license or distortion poetic license or distortion
AuthorityAuthoritythe camera and the setthe camera and the set
Raffi and the filmRaffi and the film
initiation to find his origininitiation to find his originconnection with the pastconnection with the past
to understand his position/cultural identityto understand his position/cultural identity
Questioning HistoryQuestioning HistoryTwisted, modifiedTwisted, modifiedSubjective historySubjective history
Ali vs. Raffi and SaroyanAli vs. Raffi and SaroyanTerrorist or freedom fighter (Raffi’s father)Terrorist or freedom fighter (Raffi’s father)
” ” Every true history is contemporary history”Every true history is contemporary history” InterpretationInterpretation
The flower on Gorky’s paintingThe flower on Gorky’s paintingA fragrant gift to his absent fatherA fragrant gift to his absent fatherCover the lost bottomCover the lost bottom
Pomegranate—cultural father Pomegranate—cultural father Relate to his mother/ArmeniaRelate to his mother/Armenia
CansCans
emotional items emotional items
meaningless objects (state apparatus) meaningless objects (state apparatus) Mt. AraratMt. Ararat
National and religious identityNational and religious identity
Unfinished hands — open woundUnfinished hands — open woundHandsHands
Mother’s touchMother’s touchunityunity
ConclusionConclusion Button Button
symbolizes “wound”symbolizes “wound”
Sewing buttonSewing button
Stitch parts and facts togetherStitch parts and facts together
Healing woundHealing wound
ConclusionConclusion Did genocide really happen?Did genocide really happen?
Armenians Claims:Armenians Claims:
Ottoman Empire committed genocide to the Armenian Ottoman Empire committed genocide to the Armenian
people, they called it the Armenian Genocidepeople, they called it the Armenian Genocide
What about Turkey’s stands?What about Turkey’s stands?
Turkey Claims:Turkey Claims:
Deny the word “genocide”Deny the word “genocide”
During World War I, many Armenians died, but Turks dDuring World War I, many Armenians died, but Turks died as wellied as well
Inter-ethnic violence and the wider conflict of World WaInter-ethnic violence and the wider conflict of World War Ir I