Archive for August, 2010

The 105-year-old Postcard Mystery: Armenian or Not?

The 105-year-old Postcard Mystery: Armenian or Not?

Calling all linguists! A user in the community weblog Metafilter has run into a possibly Armenian-related conundrum. “I just bought a postcard written in what looks like Armenian sent from what is now Lviv to what is now Chernivtsi (in what is now Ukraine), sometime between 1905 and (I’m guessing from the stamp) the end [...]

Culture Vulture 4 Comments

Odar: The Omission of Identity

Odar: The Omission of Identity

The word odar is roughly translated as “stranger”, “non-Armenian” or “other”, similar to the use of the word goy or goyim, a word of Yiddish and Hebrew origin which is used to describe non-Jews. Both these words border ethnocentricity sit on the edge of insulting and ethnocentric or are a culturally endearing word taken out [...]

Commentary 4 Comments

The Big Picture: Armenia Through Non-Armenian Eyes

The Big Picture: Armenia Through Non-Armenian Eyes

Boston.com’s the Big Picture is one of the most awe-inspiring and breathtaking  photo series on the web. So when the site recently publishing an amazing look at Russia in color, a century ago, by 19th century photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, we were tempted to do our own reoccurring photo show. Below you will find various [...]

Arts & Entertainment 4 Comments

Home and Homeland: The Journey to Armenia

Home and Homeland: The Journey to Armenia

This is a first in the series called “Home and Homeland,” an exploration into the Armenian Diaspora’s connection (or sometimes lack thereof) with Armenia, repatriation, identity, culture and more. What makes someone leave home, walk away from his or her life, friends, family, work, school and become a traveler? Seven months ago, fresh out of [...]

Features 15 Comments

Overheard on the Net: Perceptions of Armenian Women

Overheard on the Net: Perceptions of Armenian Women

“Overheard on the Net” has been on a mysterious hiatus for some time, but don’t worry, it’s back, with more than enough virtual eavesdropping to keep you satisfied. I guess the Twitterverse got together these last few weeks and decided unanimously to direct their grievances towards Armenian women. Very odd.  Shall we? An Armenian woman [...]

In The Nose 8 Comments