nairi Posted January 16, 2005 Report Share Posted January 16, 2005 To my shame I only "got around" to reading this book in the past few days, even though I've had it in my possession for over 7 years now... My verdict: I liked it. It's absolutely hilarious, it draws on a wealth of (American) literature, borders the absurd, and gives it a "unique" twist. For all you Armenian diggers, you'll certainly find a few allusions in there to dig. I'll leave the criticism to the critics here Meanwhile enjoy: http://www.agbu.org/agbunews/display.asp?A_ID=145 (the only Armenian website I could find with substantial mention of Nersesian) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...610264?v=glance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 To my shame I only "got around" to reading this book in the past few days, even though I've had it in my possession for over 7 years now... My verdict: I liked it. It's absolutely hilarious, it draws on a wealth of (American) literature, borders the absurd, and gives it a "unique" twist. For all you Armenian diggers, you'll certainly find a few allusions in there to dig. I'll leave the criticism to the critics here Meanwhile enjoy: http://www.agbu.org/agbunews/display.asp?A_ID=145 (the only Armenian website I could find with substantial mention of Nersesian) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...610264?v=glance style_images/master/snapback.png Great! I still have 7 years to read it! Thanks! Some interviews: http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/still_fres.../nersesian.html http://suicidegirls.com/words/Arthur+Nersesian/ I'm considering buying his books. I'll let you know if I bump into him: we seem to be neighbors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 I haven't read anything else by him unfortunately so I can't judge whether the rest is of the same standard as The F*ck-Up (which I see has been censored in my title). There's usually that degradation in authors once they get paid to write books... Thanks for the interviews. I found some more on google as well. Interesting really that non-Armenians payed so much attention to him (he even won some Indie award in 2000), but Armenians have virtually ignored him. What does that say about us?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 I haven't read anything else by him unfortunately so I can't judge whether the rest is of ********* but Armenians have virtually ignored him. What does that say about us?? style_images/master/snapback.png Is is because his main themes don't revolve around the Genocide and uses words that is an embarssment to "devoutly Christian" Armenians? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Is is because his main themes don't revolve around the Genocide and uses words that is an embarssment to "devoutly Christian" Armenians? style_images/master/snapback.png Agh you sarcastic little bird, you beat me to it! That was generally my complaint about the Armenian literature in terms of it lacking the necessary versatility to gain a substantial international recognition and not because of the historical content which has gotten really redundant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Is is because his main themes don't revolve around the Genocide and uses words that is an embarssment to "devoutly Christian" Armenians? style_images/master/snapback.png Maybe implicitly these are his main themes Have you read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 I haven't read anything else by him unfortunately so I can't judge whether the rest is of the same standard as The F*ck-Up (which I see has been censored in my title). There's usually that degradation in authors once they get paid to write books... style_images/master/snapback.png nairi, In the case of Arthur Nersesian, I would use the word "get paid" carefully! It seems to me that he still evolves in the "Underground World!" Simply, take into consideration the kind of sites where he's mentioned! He's an East Village writer! Thanks for the interviews. I found some more on google as well. Interesting really that non-Armenians payed so much attention to him (he even won some Indie award in 2000), but Armenians have virtually ignored him. What does that say about us?? style_images/master/snapback.png First of all, ignoring non-mainstream writers/Artists/anything is not typical to Armenians! NON-MAINSTREAM non-Armenians - and maybe Armenians - showed interest in his work. Let's not forget that he seems to be part of a well defined sub-culture!!! (For the record, sub-culture has NO negative connotations!) Second of all, I was positively surprised that the AGBU did show some interest in a writer like him! I seriously doubt that any American Organization equivalent to the AGBU would show interest in an American writer like Nersesian! It seems to me that, in fact, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND! Conclusion: We, Armenians, care about each others more than many other Nations do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Is is because his main themes don't revolve around the Genocide and uses words that is an embarssment to "devoutly Christian" Armenians? style_images/master/snapback.png Arpa, I can give you the name of another Artist - far more famous than Nersesian - who have for many years talked about the Armenian Genocide through her work and is still unknown by the Armenian Community! The reason is simple - and the same applies to Nersesian: her work is not mainstream! I don't know Nersesian's work but Diamada Galas is an accomplished Musician and performer! (Incidentally, she also lives in East Village!) How many in this forum have listened and/or acknowledged her work? I would say: an insignificant number, if any! I think that you're obsessed with the idea that "Armenians are obsessed with the Genocide." Would the explanation that you - recently - offered to explain our "obsession" with the Genocide also explain your obsession? Is the alleged "obsession with the Genocide" is becoming a justification of..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 (edited) Plenty of attention has been paid to Galas from the Armenian front. Much more than Nersesian. As for Nersesian being part of a subculture: he is that because of the Americans! We haven't even made him PART of our culture, let alone a subculture! Do we have to wait for him to win a Pulitzer Prize or be formally included in the American literary canon for us to recognize him as an author worthy of our attention?? Edited January 20, 2005 by nairi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Plenty of attention has been paid to Galas from the Armenian front. Much more than Nersesian. As for Nersesian being part of a subculture: he is that because of the Americans! We haven't even made him PART of our culture, let alone a subculture! Do we have to wait for him to win a Pulitzer Prize or be formally included in the American literary canon for us to recognize him as an author worthy of our attention?? style_images/master/snapback.pngPlenty of attention has been paid to Galas from the Armenian front. Much more than Nersesian. style_images/master/snapback.png Honestly, how many Armenians do you know - including Music lovers - who listen - or have ever listened - to Diamanda Galas at home or would consider going to see her perform? The occasional press releases posted on Groong go almost unnoticed! I have been on many Armenian Forums and have never seen her being discussed. Both Galas and Nersesian have a non-mainstream audience! That is universal phenomena! That is not typical to us! As for Nersesian being part of a subculture: he is that because of the Americans! We haven't even made him PART of our culture, let alone a subculture! Do we have to wait for him to win a Pulitzer Prize or be formally included in the American literary canon for us to recognize him as an author worthy of our attention?? style_images/master/snapback.png AGBU mentions him! That's a positive surprise! Can you name a single American "underground" writer that is acclaimed by an American Organization equivalent to the AGBU? I would gladly discuss why a writer like Nersesian is not - usually - acknowledged outside of a subculture, if we don't make it an Armenian vs. non-Armenian issue! It's an universal issue! At the contrary, I think that Armenians often encourage a controversial Artist only because he/she is Armenian! You have mentioned his works and you found an echo: I wonder if that would have been the case in an average American forum/audience! I seriously doubt! Good Night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Honestly, how many Armenians do you know - including Music lovers - who listen - or have ever listened - to Diamanda Galas at home or would consider going to see her perform? style_images/master/snapback.png I can say that both my sister and I know of her and have her CD, but I am not a big fan to go to one of her performances. If I am not mistaken I have posted about her on this forum a few times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Siamanto, I don't care about Armenian Organizations recognizing him or not. He's not a genocide. I'm talking about about the "intellectual, reading" Armenian audience. Or what about Armenian bookstores?? How come he's not prominently "advertised" in Armenian papers, magazines, websites, bookstores, etc? To name just a few things. Are we ashamed of him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 21, 2005 Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 Siamanto, I don't care about Armenian Organizations recognizing him or not. He's not a genocide. I'm talking about about the "intellectual, reading" Armenian audience. Or what about Armenian bookstores?? nairi We do not disagree on the fact that Armenians in general did not embrace Arthur Nersesian. Personally, I would even say that Armenians - or non-Armenians - in general would not embrace a writer like Arthur Nersesian. My point is that: 1- That is not typical to Armenians 2- The reason why Armenians did not - or would not - embrace a Nersesian is independent from the "Genocide factor." In fact, they did not and would not embrace an artist like Diamanda Galas neither! Those are undeniable facts! Any complex phenomena can ONLY be observed, analyzed and/or studied using many different indicators. I did not mention the AGBU's press release as a proof that Armenians have embraced Nersesian; as a RELATIVE positive sign, but not as a proof that Armenians have recognized him! The recognition by the (Armenian) Public is one indicator, the recognition by the (Armenian) Organizations another one! How come he's not prominently "advertised" in Armenian papers, magazines, websites, bookstores, etc? To name just a few things. Are we ashamed of him? style_images/master/snapback.png Please show me how many American writers like Nersesian are recognized by mainstream America? Please tell me how much recognition did Diamada Galas get in the US? That may be considered as unfortunate, but such are humans! What can we do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 21, 2005 Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 Honestly, how many Armenians do you know - including Music lovers - who listen - or have ever listened - to Diamanda Galas at home or would consider going to see her perform? The occasional press releases posted on Groong go almost unnoticed! I have been on many Armenian Forums and have never seen her being discussed. style_images/master/snapback.png I can say that both my sister and I know of her and have her CD, but I am not a big fan to go to one of her performances. If I am not mistaken I have posted about her on this forum a few times. style_images/master/snapback.png Azat, I'm glad to hear that you have made the effort to consider her work: but, you are an exception! As for the 3-4 posts that you have posted 4-5 years ago and that had minimal echo, would not qualify as a discussion about Diamada Galas and do not reflect an interest of the Armenians in her work! In any case, the point/context was that Armenians in general would not adopt creators such as Nersesian and Galas, REGARDLESS of the "Genocide Factor." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nairi Posted January 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 So you're basically saying we're mainstream people even though we claim not to be? I agree with you. We can't see honey even when it's staring us in the face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 21, 2005 Report Share Posted January 21, 2005 (edited) So you're basically saying we're mainstream people even though we claim not to be? I agree with you. style_images/master/snapback.png nairi, Is that a "trick question?" Before I answer, would you please clarify what is meant by "we?" Thanks. PS. I would add: Is there a homogeneous Armenian Community? For me, the answer is no! Edited January 21, 2005 by Siamanto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siamanto Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 nairi, FYI. Today, I was at St Mark's Bookshop - a local East Village bookstore - and I was positively surprised to see seven different titles by Nersesian. Curiosity lead me to Barnes & Noble, located only two short blocks away - about 80 meters. Not so surprisingly, they only carried one title, namely "Manhattan Loverboy." For the record, Barnes & Noble has 3 levels and about 12-15 times more space than St Mark's Bookshop! Also, it mainly caters to students and a young clientele! My guess is that, at a different location, they may completely ignore a writer like Nersesian! Sad but true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig9 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 nairi, FYI. Today, I was at St Mark's Bookshop - a local East Village bookstore - and I was positively surprised to see seven different titles by Nersesian. Curiosity lead me to Barnes & Noble, located only two short blocks away - about 80 meters. Not so surprisingly, they only carried one title, namely "Manhattan Loverboy." For the record, Barnes & Noble has 3 levels and about 12-15 times more space than St Mark's Bookshop! Also, it mainly caters to students and a young clientele! My guess is that, at a different location, they may completely ignore a writer like Nersesian! Sad but true! style_images/master/snapback.png Great book store, with great prices. This is was one of my favorite places to buy books when I was in NY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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