April Mourning
There have been so many projects on my plate, I found myself looking at a friend in the face the other day and realized how much detail exists in reality that you don't see on a computer screen. Ladies and gents, when you start getting mezmorized by the details of real objects and people infront of you because you haven't seen anything but monitors or the back of your eyelids in a while, it's time to unplug yourself. But I am proud of my accomplishments. I have become the official April 24th event flyer designer. I'm happy I have that to contribute. But I did something else that I think may be my proudest work for so many reasons. Last year I worked on a booklet that was handed out at the Souls concert that gave background on the Armenian genocide. this was distributed to thousands of System of a Down fans educating them on the history in a quick 12 pages. But I always thought it was a bit short. This year I did the same thing, but longer and more in-depth. But we made it so that it can be used time and time again, with the goal of distributing it through the school systems everywhere, etc. It's also going to be on their website just in case people don't make it to the show. I say this not to brag, but because I think this is the coolest freakin' thing I've done, and I realized this through an experience.
I started my new design job in January, and since, I know my co-workers had lingering questions about my secret life of hard core activism and political drive (not just Armenian things, but everything. It's not common that designers are so politically involved). They saw hints of crazy in me, but I'm pretty private otherwise (aside from publishing all my life experiences on a web blog). Generally, I keep to myself at work unless they pry, and I think they are afraid to discover too much. Well, the subject came up with one of my co-workers who has a Turkish friend, and wondered why Armenians hate Turks so much. I tried to tell her it's because they commit a genocide and deny it to this day, but it didn't register. She said, well, today's Turks didn't do it, so why do you guys hate them? How do you go into that without scaring them off? Mind you, I normally wouldn't care, but I work in an office with 5 other people, so I need to keep some balance.
Weeks later, I was sharing my stories of working on this project with her (and my God, the last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of 16 hour days, 7 days a week), about the concert, about the cause, and the design I did for them. It initiated more conversation and she simply asked to read the booklet for more information. Half an hour later, it seemed like she learned everything she needed to know. She was sad and disturbed, but sympathetic and understanding just by reading a short 20 page booklet. She asked some questions about the political battle in the US and why the US sides with Turkey. At this point, it was so much easier to explain without having to find the words from something so personal.
Why do I bring this up? This moment helped me realize why this booklet was so important to me. We (at least I) are SO saturated with this subject that we don't even know how the rest of the world reacts when they learn of it. It hit me when she came back so sad... a reasonable reaction, but when you spend 27 years of your life fighting for genocide recognition, looking at genocide photos and reading the stories all the time, you sort of become used to it. I wouldn't say numb because I still cry if I sit and think about it.
Anyway, the idea is that I realized how powerful a tool this simple booklet became.. What System is doing is incredibly smart. They have found a way to break the barrier of the Armenian community to the "odar" world through their talent and success. Granted, the depth of the genocide can't be wrapped up in a 20 page booklet, but if it's enough to grab someone who otherwise is just there for a good show, we just educated 6000 people in one night.
Last year someone else came to the ANCA office with an incredible idea of using his very convenient placement in the design community to encourage the best designers in the world to design posters on the Armenian Genocide for a major show, drawing attention of the entire design community and the art world to the subject. I think logistics got in the way, but the idea was important. There are so many of us spread out in the world in so many different fields and industries that have more power than we use. I appreciate that System took the unprecedented step of having the guts to bring this message forward through their success. We shouldn't be afraid to do this in every aspect of our lives. We aren't wrong for wanting justice.
Tomorrow is the local DC community program commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Wednesday is the Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill with participation of ALL organizations and organized by the Armenian Caucus Co-chairs. A few individuals will stand infront of the Turkish Embassy every day around rush hour next week with signs. ACYOA is also having a 90 hour vigil throughout the weekend. Of course, the expected demonstration will be taking place, but this time RIGHT infront of the Turkish Embassy, after which everyone will continue to the Armenian Embassy for a wreath laying ceremony. And last but absolutely not least, we have 4, maybe 5 busload of Armenians going up to NYC for all the events taking place there in Time Square and St Patrick's Cathedral. I'm sure there will be more driving up themselves.
And to end on a sad note, to bring it back to what this is all about, I'm sad to report that another Genocide survivor in the DC area just passed away. May her soul rest in peace.
I started my new design job in January, and since, I know my co-workers had lingering questions about my secret life of hard core activism and political drive (not just Armenian things, but everything. It's not common that designers are so politically involved). They saw hints of crazy in me, but I'm pretty private otherwise (aside from publishing all my life experiences on a web blog). Generally, I keep to myself at work unless they pry, and I think they are afraid to discover too much. Well, the subject came up with one of my co-workers who has a Turkish friend, and wondered why Armenians hate Turks so much. I tried to tell her it's because they commit a genocide and deny it to this day, but it didn't register. She said, well, today's Turks didn't do it, so why do you guys hate them? How do you go into that without scaring them off? Mind you, I normally wouldn't care, but I work in an office with 5 other people, so I need to keep some balance.
Weeks later, I was sharing my stories of working on this project with her (and my God, the last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of 16 hour days, 7 days a week), about the concert, about the cause, and the design I did for them. It initiated more conversation and she simply asked to read the booklet for more information. Half an hour later, it seemed like she learned everything she needed to know. She was sad and disturbed, but sympathetic and understanding just by reading a short 20 page booklet. She asked some questions about the political battle in the US and why the US sides with Turkey. At this point, it was so much easier to explain without having to find the words from something so personal.
Why do I bring this up? This moment helped me realize why this booklet was so important to me. We (at least I) are SO saturated with this subject that we don't even know how the rest of the world reacts when they learn of it. It hit me when she came back so sad... a reasonable reaction, but when you spend 27 years of your life fighting for genocide recognition, looking at genocide photos and reading the stories all the time, you sort of become used to it. I wouldn't say numb because I still cry if I sit and think about it.
Anyway, the idea is that I realized how powerful a tool this simple booklet became.. What System is doing is incredibly smart. They have found a way to break the barrier of the Armenian community to the "odar" world through their talent and success. Granted, the depth of the genocide can't be wrapped up in a 20 page booklet, but if it's enough to grab someone who otherwise is just there for a good show, we just educated 6000 people in one night.
Last year someone else came to the ANCA office with an incredible idea of using his very convenient placement in the design community to encourage the best designers in the world to design posters on the Armenian Genocide for a major show, drawing attention of the entire design community and the art world to the subject. I think logistics got in the way, but the idea was important. There are so many of us spread out in the world in so many different fields and industries that have more power than we use. I appreciate that System took the unprecedented step of having the guts to bring this message forward through their success. We shouldn't be afraid to do this in every aspect of our lives. We aren't wrong for wanting justice.
Tomorrow is the local DC community program commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Wednesday is the Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill with participation of ALL organizations and organized by the Armenian Caucus Co-chairs. A few individuals will stand infront of the Turkish Embassy every day around rush hour next week with signs. ACYOA is also having a 90 hour vigil throughout the weekend. Of course, the expected demonstration will be taking place, but this time RIGHT infront of the Turkish Embassy, after which everyone will continue to the Armenian Embassy for a wreath laying ceremony. And last but absolutely not least, we have 4, maybe 5 busload of Armenians going up to NYC for all the events taking place there in Time Square and St Patrick's Cathedral. I'm sure there will be more driving up themselves.
And to end on a sad note, to bring it back to what this is all about, I'm sad to report that another Genocide survivor in the DC area just passed away. May her soul rest in peace.
posted by Arsineh at 8:02 AM
5 Comments:
You noted "They saw hints of crazy in me "...well join the club sister and take spiritual pride in that observation. People try to pigeonhole others all the time, reveal and foretaste the madness of your genius, and don’t forget to have fun with it. In the end we are all just passing by.
“As long as there have been poets to pierce the darkness with their diamond songs, and painters to capture rays of sun shattering on cool cathedral stone, and artists of all persuasions to consort with the gods and articulate the union, there have been social critics to notice that an awful lot of these creative people are mentally unsound.” .. The Madness of Genius by Natalie Angier.
I have a friend whose brother used to have a Turkish room mate in Ottawa (Canadian capital). The room mate, apparently, never left the house on April 24. Why? Because the Armenians might attack him. Huh? I don't ever recall anything like that happening.
My same friend had a couple of younger brothers who knew quite a bit about the Armenian Genocide. I'm talking about people who are not even Armenian. How? “System” fans.
Keep up the good work Arsineh.
Thanks guys. Armenians attacking him, eh? Never heard of that happening either. But let him stay home in fear. The System fans thing is really bizarre. I wish there were a way to track how many people learned about the Genocide through System and how that effects things.
Hagop, it's always encouraging to know there's another nut out there. If I weren't a nut, I would be sooooo bored with myself.
Also, I thought I'd mention that we have at least 6 full bus loads of people going to New York this weekend, and I know plenty of people are going up on their own. This community has done a tremendous job organizing and I'm glad to see the people are showing up.
Also, I thought I'd mention that we have at least 6 full bus loads of people going to New York this weekend, and I know plenty of people are going up on their own. This community has done a tremendous job organizing and I'm glad to see the people are showing up.
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