Vardan Azatyan
Yerevan: Johannissyan Institute, 2019
ISBN 978-9939-9176-1-0
The small book published on the occasion of the first anniversary of the revolution in Armenia in April-May, 2018, presents the author’s understanding of the event. It aims to think and conceive of the event on its own terms. And since revolutions are essentially creative processes their adequate understanding cannot succeed without an imaginary thinking. Thus, the book does not present an analysis of the revolution. Rather it is a philosophical undertaking about the cultural forces capable of making a revolution in Armenia.
The book consists of two parts – the main text and an appendix, which is comprised of historical documents. These documents to which the author refers in his text substantiate and expand his arguments. The appendix presents texts by Mikael Nalbandyan, Leo and Ashot Hovhannissyan that reveal the tensions between traditional culture and the processes of modernization in Armenian context as well as the revolutionary power of conventional morals. For the latter perspective the folk parable “Slik Erets” that concludes the appendix is especially significant. Therefore, the book brings out the contemporary event in relation to the local tradition while the latter appears in light of the contemporary.
The book is available in libraries and bookstores in Yerevan.