Armenian memoir in Ottoman studies: a workshop in Bamberg, Germany

PRESS RELEASE
Houshamadyan e. V. (non-profit Organisation)
Berliner Str. 100
13189 Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Armenian and Ottoman studies are, in essence, called to be mutually
complementary and enriching academic disciplines. The reality however, is
that for a very long time they have become areas of specialisation, each
ignoring the other.

It is possible, therefore, to regard the workshop held by the Faculty of
Turkish Studies of the Otto-Friedrich-University, Bamberg (Germany) on 16
December 2011, as an attempt to break out of this unsuccessful situation.
The importance of Ottoman Armenian memoir and self-narration was examined
during this academic meeting.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Chair of Turkish Studies of the
Otto-Fredrich-University, Bamberg (Germany), the Orient-Institut (Istanbul)
and the Houshamadyan Association (Berlin). It is worth stressing that this
one-day seminar took place at the initiative of Christoph Herzog (Bamberg)
and Richard Wittmann (Orient-Institut, Istanbul), who are members of a new
generation of Ottoman scholars. They are attempting to break Ottoman
studies, developed in the West, out of its classical mould and inject new
things into it. The attention that they have shown towards Armenian
historiographical sources is, in the first instance, an unprecedented step
in the discipline of Ottoman studies.

Elke Hartmann (Berlin Free University/Houshamadyan) provided a general
overview of the theme of the workshop. Ara Sarafian (Gomidas Institute,
London), Talin Suciyan (University of Munich) and Aylin Koçunyan (European
University Institute) all addressed the workshop. Other 0ttoman studies and
Armenian studies scholars from various countries took part to the workshop:
Hans-Lukas Kieser (University of Zurich), Rachel Goshgarian (Lafayette
College), Hacik Gazer (University of Erlangen), Eyal Ginio (The Hebrew
University), Johann Strauss (Université de Strasbourg), Alexandre Toumarkine
(Orient-Institut, Istanbul).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.houshamadyan.org/

Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.

Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2011/12/18/armenian-memoir-in-ottoman-studies-a-workshop-in-bamberg-germany/

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS