Liana Aghajanian is journalist who writes for various print and online publications in addition to being Editor-In-Chief of ianyanmag. She has written for the Glendale News-Press, Bitch, Paste and Ararat magazine and currently also works as an editor. She takes her chai without sugar, but her dolma with lots of yogurt.

Glimpse: Lives of 19th Century Armenian Women

In “A History of Armenian Women’s Writing, 1880-1922,” author Victoria Rowe discusses novelist Zabel Yesayian’s impressions of the lives of Armenian women in the 1880s and 1890s. “In her autobiography, Yesayian noted that in her youth, many of her female friends lamented the fact that they had little freedom. They ‘wanted to be educated, to [...]

The Khohanotz: Pumpkin Pie, Middle East Style

What do you do when you’re craving pie in the fall (could have fooled me, Los Angeles) and want to snack on dates at the same time? Combine them of course, into a rustic Middle-Eastern style pumpkin pie made from scratch. Considered to be the candy of the Middle East, dates have been cultivated around [...]

Armenian Rapper Draws Criticism With Violent Photos

In a country that is still coming to terms with domestic violence issues, particularity sexual abuse aimed against women, Armenian-American rapper Sako Balasanyan, better known by his stage name of “Super Sako” has angered Armenians with a new series of photographs featuring violent, misogynistic imagery of a faceless woman and him in various settings. The [...]

The Big Picture: Armenia’s Vernissage in Mobile

At Vernissage, Armenia’s iconic outdoor market, you can find everything from kitschy souvenirs targeted towards Armenian Diasporans, who visit the country in droves for summer holidays, to handmade khachkars (stone rocks), ceramics and Soviet-era posters, badges and even passports. A French term used to describe a preview of an art exhibition, Vernissage has been a [...]

iTetr, Armenian Keyboard App is Released for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Much to the delight of fans wanting to communicate in Armenian on their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, U.S-based app workshop FunCraft has released the iTetr Armenian Keyboard, available for download on iTunes for $1.99. Designed in a style reminiscent of Soviet Armenian copy books, iTetr allows users to write in Armenian for texting, tweeting [...]

Another Look: Street Dogs in Armenia

Last week, we ran a story about the street dog situation in Armenia (See: Saving the Street Dogs of Armenia) and how a dedicated group of activists are trying their best to save the animals from being killed in order to clear the streets. The country has no established spay and neuter program, and while [...]

The Big Picture: Armenia, in Black and White

A short look into life and scenery in Armenia through black and white: All photos by L. Aghajanian/© ianyan mag

Infographic: The Importance of Armenian Genocide Recognition

On April 24, members of the Armenian Diaspora gathered in cities across the world to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the 1915 Ottoman Turk slaughter of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians. In Armenia, thousands paid their respects by laying down flowers at Yerevan’s Armenian Genocide memorial, Tsitsernakaberd. In an unexpected display, commemorations also took place in [...]

The Big Picture: Armenia, in Faces and Stories

Armenian faces are hard to miss. The same is true with the greater population of the region known as the Caucasus. Their intricate lines tell stories like the rings on a tree branch, their eyes truly live up to the “windows of the soul” cliché.  They live the struggles and successes of their lives with [...]

The Big Picture: Persian New Year or Nowruz

Marking the first day of Spring, Nowruz is celebrated not only by Iran and the Iranian Diaspora, but in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The celebrations include Spring cleaning, visits to and from family and friends and a Haft-Sin table, which has specific symbolic items that start with the letter ‘S,’ like “sabzeh” (wheat) symbolizing [...]