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Kim Kardashian's Genocide film project spurs controversial reactions in Armenia
13:02 * 11.04.15
Armenian art critics and politicians are split over Kim Kardashian's
plan to produce a documentary dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking to Tert.am, the film director Edgar Baghdasaryan said he
expects the idea to raise Armenia's advantages in achieving in the
international recognition and condemnation of the crime. "If Kim
Kardashian has a desire to produce a documentary on the Armenian
Genocide, she is welcome to do that if that can be useful," he said.
Baghdasaryan said he finds that Armenia would have had more success in
its Genocide recognition campaign had initially sought to
internationalize the problem on cultural platforms (instead of
concentrating efforts on political and diplomatic channels).
"It should have been done long ago, but I doubt that we are capable of
achieving that," he said, considering the fuss over the celebrity's
visit to Armenia a manifestation of provincialism characteristic of
small nations.
The director said he doesn't much expect the visit to serve as a PR
tool advertising Armenia.
"A man who holds several Grammy awards [i.e. Kim's husband, Kanye West
- ed] - the 'Oscar' in music - has come with her. And it looks as
though the musicians here should have gathered around him, but ..."
Kardashian's official representatives had earlier unveiled the reality
star's movie plan in comments to Agence France-Presse.
Michael Poghosyan a popular Armenian theater and film actor whom
Tert.am contacted for further comments, appeared to be unaware of the
film project but said he would hail the idea in case it really proves
a success. "I am not disposed to respond to questions of the kind, not
being quite aware of Kardashian's creative past and activities. God
grant the movie is a success, so that both she and Cher would
re-establish themselves [as ethnic Armenians]," he said.
According to Tevan Poghosyan, an opposition MP from the Heritage
party, the idea could really be a good opportunity in the Genocide
recognition efforts. "Any information which will help obtain a more
precise information on Genocide and condemn the phenomenon is
acceptable. All people have now come to realize that even one
Instagram photo of Kim Kardashian makes Armenia presentable the
world," he told our correspondent.
Poghosyan said he finds that Armenia should negotiate certain
historiographic aspects to ensure an appropriate quality.
"Kim seems to have started developing her connections with Armenia, as
she announces everywhere that she has come to homeland ready to offer
her contribution to the Genocide recognition efforts," he noted.
The political analyst Styopa Safaryan says he feels somewhat skeptical
about the project. "To be frank, I would like Kim Kardashian to do
what she is good at. And I wouldn't consider a film studio the right
platform for her to offer the best solution to the problem. She is a
great master of reality shows, so I wouldn't like her to produce a
feature or documentary movie," he told our correspondent.
The idea is also opposed by Armen Badalyan, an expert in PR and
electoral technologies. "Yes, Armenia to an extent raises its PR
advantages thanks to Kardashian's visit. But a question arises as to
whether Genocide was the right issue for PR," he said, expressing
fears that efforts to propagandize serious issue as that on a show
star's level might really reduce its significance.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/04/11/documentary-qardashyan/1642580
13:02 * 11.04.15
Armenian art critics and politicians are split over Kim Kardashian's
plan to produce a documentary dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking to Tert.am, the film director Edgar Baghdasaryan said he
expects the idea to raise Armenia's advantages in achieving in the
international recognition and condemnation of the crime. "If Kim
Kardashian has a desire to produce a documentary on the Armenian
Genocide, she is welcome to do that if that can be useful," he said.
Baghdasaryan said he finds that Armenia would have had more success in
its Genocide recognition campaign had initially sought to
internationalize the problem on cultural platforms (instead of
concentrating efforts on political and diplomatic channels).
"It should have been done long ago, but I doubt that we are capable of
achieving that," he said, considering the fuss over the celebrity's
visit to Armenia a manifestation of provincialism characteristic of
small nations.
The director said he doesn't much expect the visit to serve as a PR
tool advertising Armenia.
"A man who holds several Grammy awards [i.e. Kim's husband, Kanye West
- ed] - the 'Oscar' in music - has come with her. And it looks as
though the musicians here should have gathered around him, but ..."
Kardashian's official representatives had earlier unveiled the reality
star's movie plan in comments to Agence France-Presse.
Michael Poghosyan a popular Armenian theater and film actor whom
Tert.am contacted for further comments, appeared to be unaware of the
film project but said he would hail the idea in case it really proves
a success. "I am not disposed to respond to questions of the kind, not
being quite aware of Kardashian's creative past and activities. God
grant the movie is a success, so that both she and Cher would
re-establish themselves [as ethnic Armenians]," he said.
According to Tevan Poghosyan, an opposition MP from the Heritage
party, the idea could really be a good opportunity in the Genocide
recognition efforts. "Any information which will help obtain a more
precise information on Genocide and condemn the phenomenon is
acceptable. All people have now come to realize that even one
Instagram photo of Kim Kardashian makes Armenia presentable the
world," he told our correspondent.
Poghosyan said he finds that Armenia should negotiate certain
historiographic aspects to ensure an appropriate quality.
"Kim seems to have started developing her connections with Armenia, as
she announces everywhere that she has come to homeland ready to offer
her contribution to the Genocide recognition efforts," he noted.
The political analyst Styopa Safaryan says he feels somewhat skeptical
about the project. "To be frank, I would like Kim Kardashian to do
what she is good at. And I wouldn't consider a film studio the right
platform for her to offer the best solution to the problem. She is a
great master of reality shows, so I wouldn't like her to produce a
feature or documentary movie," he told our correspondent.
The idea is also opposed by Armen Badalyan, an expert in PR and
electoral technologies. "Yes, Armenia to an extent raises its PR
advantages thanks to Kardashian's visit. But a question arises as to
whether Genocide was the right issue for PR," he said, expressing
fears that efforts to propagandize serious issue as that on a show
star's level might really reduce its significance.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/04/11/documentary-qardashyan/1642580