About the project
Armenians are often regarded as the pioneers of photography in the Middle East in the 19th century, as they were among the first native inhabitants of the region to open studios in major cities and to run some of the most famous local studios. This changed in the early 20th century, as photographic studios became less popular and many Armenian photographers were exiled or killed during the catastrophic events of 1915.
However, the close connection between Armenians and photography resurfaced at this point. Surviving Armenians sought refuge in new countries where they preserved much of their original culture, known as the diaspora. Other Armenians were relocated within the country borders. Several of those Armenians, both in Turkey and in the diaspora, chose photography as a new profession.
"Photography as a Survival and Diaspora Building Tool in the Aftermath of 1915" is the first in-depth study of Armenians who chose photography as a profession. The project examines how this profession contributed to the photographers' self-sufficiency and to the formation and maintenance of the Armenian diaspora community after the genocide.
Objectives
The project aims to bring to light several case studies around the world, through both archival research and interviews with third and fourth generation family members of former Armenian photographers.
As Armenians were woven into the fabric of the countries in which they sought refuge, the project aims to reveal the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the Armenian experience in different countries.
The project will in the end provide an entirely new dataset and build a unique open-access database. This way, it will contribute to the scholarly community, the Armenian cultural heritage, and the global cultural history of societies around the world.
