“Art can raise historical consciousness,” asserted Paul Van Blum at Saturday’s panel discussion on the Brand Library exhibit “Man’s Inhumanity to Man: Journey Out of Darkness.” A lecturer in Art History at UCLA, Van Blum believes art can also generate moral consciousness.
Conversely, “Destruction of culture is part of the genocidal process,” according to Levon Marashlian, Professor of History at Glendale Community College. “As different peoples add to the wealth of humanity, cultural destruction is like tearing out pages of an encyclopedia.”
The two men were joined by exhibit curator and moderator Dr. Ramela Abbamontian and Pierce College Lecturer Angelo Allen for an hour-long discussion on the exhibit, part of the city of Glendale’s 2009 commemorative events in recognition of the Armenian genocide.
Van Blum, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, deplored the fact that most of his incoming students know who Britney Spears is, while only a few recognize the name Hermann Goering. His aim in the Art History classes he teaches at UCLA is to make sure students leave with a better understanding of history and the role of art in reflecting it. “When I teach history through art, that is the agenda,” he said.
Marashlian meditated on genocide perpetrators’ motives for cultural destruction. Erasing all traces of a culture’s existence is an irrational way of copying with guilt and denying the truth about what transpired. Hatred inspires perpetrators to commit another irrational act by destroying the spoils – monuments, art work, and other treasures – that they’ve stolen from victims.
The compelling exhibit (which runs through May 8) and Saturday’s panel discussion were thought-provoking and encouraging in the sense that discussing such difficult themes honestly and experiencing works of art which portray them are steps in the right direction. The exhibit runs through May 5. Other commemorative events include a Monday, 6 p.m. discussion on “Man’s Inhumanity to Humanity” at the Central Library,
Tuesday, April 21, Joint Genocide Commemoration of Armenian and Episcopal Churches, St. Peter Armenian Church
Wednesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m., Genocide Remembrance Program, Glendale High School Auditorium
Friday, April 24, 7 p.m., Genocide Commemoration at the Alex Theatre.
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