Robert Fullam is a Political Science student at the University of Connecticut-Storrs. He is interested in diaspora and identity politics, Holocaust and Genocide Studies and anthropology. He enjoys pumpkin pie, kalamata olives and ginger ale. Robert Fullam
Robert Fullam is a Political Science student at the University of Connecticut-Storrs. He is interested in diaspora and identity politics, Holocaust and Genocide Studies and anthropology. He enjoys pumpkin pie, kalamata olives and ginger ale. 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 [...]
Appreciating Odds and Ends in Armenian Culture
There long has been a phenomenon that not just myself, but countless other Armenians have taken note of, those ubiquitous floral patterned dresses that older Armenian women seem to wear. Whether they are at the store, at a church bazaar, a kef or anywhere else, they wear these things all the time! I [...]
The Faces and Facets of Armenian Identity
“Well, you don’t look Armenian.” It’s one of those phrases that you might hear occasionally but for some Armenians, they’re told they don’t “look Armenian” all the time. The issue of looking Armenian opens up certain facets of Armenian identity, one of them being the subject of race. The night before Armenian Christmas, [...]
Meghker: The Anatomy of an Armenian Word
“Meghker! Meghker!” If you are Armenian you have probably heard this phrase uttered before, by your mother, or your father, aunts, uncles, many times your grandparents. I remember when I first heard it said by my mother, I didn’t understand what she was saying, and I asked her what it meant. She [...]
The Language Lament: Embrace Multiculturalism
The fact that Armenian as a language, has survived under the rule of multiple empires over the centuries is a testament to the power and importance that language has in the hearts of Armenians. I was reading some articles on ArmenianWeekly.com and came across an article by Henry Astarjian, Astarjian: ‘Bazaar’ and ‘Kef’: Is [...]
The Half-Armenian Identity: But Your Name Is…
I have encountered the phrase “but your name is,” countless times when I meet new Armenians and non-Armenians alike. Explaining to non-Armenians that my mom is the Armenian has never been too hard but it is the conversations with Armenians that always tend to get me. Most if not all half-Armenians with an [...]