AraratArarat

Anna, Emily, Honda, JulieAnna, Emily, Honda, Julie

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

Family Relation Family Relation

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

Trauma Trauma

The wound only speaks when we look backThe wound only speaks when we look back

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

SymbolsSymbols

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