USC’s Innovate Armenia program tackles identity, digital humanitiesMarch 16, 2016 - 10:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Innovate Armenia – where Heritage meets Innovation – will be held on the USC main campus, on Saturday, April 2. “Innovate Armenia” is a signature program of the University of Southern California Institute of Armenian Studies. Innovate Armenia is a great convener – it brings together those who know and those who care, to drive a new kind of conversation about the Armenian world,” explained Salpi Ghazarian, director of the Institute of Armenian Studies. The Innovate Armenia focus this year is two-fold: Identity and Digital Humanities. The theme of 21st century identity will be covered with fast-paced talks by nearly two dozen scholars and practitioners who will discuss global hybrid identities, post-Genocide identity issues for Armenians and Turks, and the Armenian identity past and future. These will take place in the USC Bovard Auditorium. Outdoors, adjacent to the music stage, there will be 20 individuals or organizations from around the world who have taken the arts, literature and culture into the digital sphere, displaying their work. “We are calling them Digital Humanists. These are individuals who use technology to promote and share Armenian language, literature, art, cultural heritage digitally via various new and innovative platforms,” Ghazarian said. They will each present their work and interact with the public all day. In addition, each will present a short TED-style talk in USC’s Taper Auditorium, throughout the day, to discuss their vision and the platforms they have created for public use. The nearly 2,000 people who attended Innovate Armenia in 2015 also enjoyed a full day’s concert on the outdoor music stage. This year, too, several new artists, rarely heard in the U.S., will perform throughout the day. And alongside these stages, a unique photo exhibition entitled “Sum of Us,” will feature photographers from Yerevan, New York, and Los Angeles, each of whom has captured a slice of Armenian identity. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |