Armenia and Books

[KarotheGreat]

Since I was little I have been a lover of books and reading. That is why it saddens me so much that Armenians don't read anymore as much as they used to. I remember from when I was little in Mer Bak 1 when Aram Asatryan comes with his new fridge and Hrant and Lala aks him "What are you going to put in the fridge?" His response: "Books, what else". Even in 94 (I think) reading books was something prestigious and a cool thing to do. Mer Bak was on tv some time ago and an there was an other scene: you have Zara and Armen together in bed and Armen is reading a book. Now let us look at Armenian tv shows now, how many scenes are there of people reading? ZERO! It seems that reading and gaining knowledge has become a taboo. In the past people were collecting and reading books as addicts.
What is happening to our culture that reading books is not something normal anymore? Where are we going to if the new generations don't like reading? Are there even new great writers in Armenia?

These are some adds to convince people to read by the Armenian government!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s38GkAEz9BA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIcNaU-apeo&feature=BFa&list=ULs38GkAEz9BA&lf=mfu_in_order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZcP5OEug6g&feature=BFa&list=ULKIcNaU-apeo&lf=mfu_in_order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xdBhET4RtE&feature=BFa&list=ULVZcP5OEug6g&lf=mfu_in_order

[Mos]

Re: Armenia and Books

Since I was little I have been a lover of books and reading. That is why it saddens me so much that Armenians don't read anymore as much as they used to. I remember from when I was little in Mer Bak 1 when Aram Asatryan comes with his new fridge and Hrant and Lala aks him "What are you going to put in the fridge?" His response: "Books, what else". Even in 94 (I think) reading books was something prestigious and a cool thing to do. Mer Bak was on tv some time ago and an there was an other scene: you have Zara and Armen together in bed and Armen is reading a book. Now let us look at Armenian tv shows now, how many scenes are there of people reading? ZERO! It seems that reading and gaining knowledge has become a taboo. In the past people were collecting and reading books as addicts.
What is happening to our culture that reading books is not something normal anymore? Where are we going to if the new generations don't like reading? Are there even new great writers in Armenia?

These are some adds to convince people to read by the Armenian government!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s38GkAEz9BA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIcNaU-apeo&feature=BFa&list=ULs38GkAEz9BA&lf=mfu_in_order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZcP5OEug6g&feature=BFa&list=ULKIcNaU-apeo&lf=mfu_in_order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xdBh...f=mfu_in_order

My family and relatives have been in the book business in Yerevan, and I can tell you it's not a pretty scene. People just don't buy books any more as they used to during Soviet times. Some people say it's because many of the intelligentsia moved out, though I think that's a poor excuse. Books have been replaced by those stupid tv series shows that make me nauseous or odnoklassniki.....I can't say the best way to encourage reading, but definitely we need to move towards that direction.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenia and Books

My family and relatives have been in the book business in Yerevan, and I can tell you it's not a pretty scene. People just don't buy books any more as they used to during Soviet times. Some people say it's because many of the intelligentsia moved out, though I think that's a poor excuse. Books have been replaced by those stupid tv series shows that make me nauseous or odnoklassniki.....I can't say the best way to encourage reading, but definitely we need to move towards that direction.

Those are excuses nothing more, in the SU times even factory workers read, now it seems no one is reading. Don't get me started on Armenian tv or music. Every serie they show is the same, can't they make something creative? And every artist in Armenia sounds the same, I can not recognise an artist based on their voice or song because they all sound the same. I love watching tv, but I hate watching Armenian tv. Look at the British and the shows they make on the BBC, top gear, Eggheads (a quiz show where smart people are being funny and answering questions), etc. There are Armenians today that don't know a single thing about the genocide, they only know it happened that is it! Can you believe something like that?

There needs to be more encouragement and we need to promote our new authors (even though I don't know any new Armenian author). Because reading books is a pleasure that every person should enjoy!

[Mos]

Re: Armenia and Books

Those are excuses nothing more, in the SU times even factory workers read, now it seems no one is reading. Don't get me started on Armenian tv or music. Every serie they show is the same, can't they make something creative? And every artist in Armenia sounds the same, I can not recognise an artist based on their voice or song because they all sound the same. I love watching tv, but I hate watching Armenian tv. Look at the British and the shows they make on the BBC, top gear, Eggheads (a quiz show where smart people are being funny and answering questions), etc. There are Armenians today that don't know a single thing about the genocide, they only know it happened that is it! Can you believe something like that?

There needs to be more encouragement and we need to promote our new authors (even though I don't know any new Armenian author). Because reading books is a pleasure that every person should enjoy!

There should be more emphasis on intellectual culture, which can be firstly changed via television shows. There needs to be more advertising for books and other such pursuits. You have this rabiz culture that weighs down on a lot of this. When it comes to our people being aware of political and especially historical issues, a lack of knowledge both can be attributed to the school and a lack of patriotism to some extent. There is a great cynisism that exists in Armenian society.

[hrai]

Re: Armenia and Books

Book reading is dying out worldwide it seems. Modern society seems to be dictating that we should have electric gadgets in our hands instead.

Few things are better than having shelves full of books, real browsing. Unfortunately bookstores are closing everywhere because of Amazon etc., I buy my children books at each and every opportunity.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenia and Books

There should be more emphasis on intellectual culture, which can be firstly changed via television shows. There needs to be more advertising for books and other such pursuits. You have this rabiz culture that weighs down on a lot of this. When it comes to our people being aware of political and especially historical issues, a lack of knowledge both can be attributed to the school and a lack of patriotism to some extent. There is a great cynisism that exists in Armenian society.

I totally agree. Look at the Daily Show, every week you have at least one author as a guest. Armenian shows should be doing the same and invite more authors to come and talk about their books. In Armenia a culture is being created that money can buy everything, going to school and studying seems to be a crime. And the elites of Armenia are supporting these issues. Armenia is in need of reforms and an educational reform should be the first one on the list.

Book reading is dying out worldwide it seems. Modern society seems to be dictating that we should have electric gadgets in our hands instead.

Few things are better than having shelves full of books, real browsing. Unfortunately bookstores are closing everywhere because of Amazon etc., I buy my children books at each and every opportunity.

Maybe traditional book format is losing but thanks to services as Amazon people are still reading that is the important point people are reading. Especially in big cities, when you walk on tram or bus you see people reading books.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia and Books

I totally agree. Look at the Daily Show, every week you have at least one author as a guest. Armenian shows should be doing the same and invite more authors to come and talk about their books. In Armenia a culture is being created that money can buy everything, going to school and studying seems to be a crime. And the elites of Armenia are supporting these issues. Armenia is in need of reforms and an educational reform should be the first one on the list.

Armenian society has become very materialistic. I guess it's a symptom of a post-Soviet society, but hopefully we will soon enough get off the "high" of materialism. Some materialism is good, but I think at times it's just too much in our society. Educational reform is badly needed, I agree. We should start firstly from cracking down on the bribes in universities and pay the teachers better.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenia and Books

Armenian society has become very materialistic. I guess it's a symptom of a post-Soviet society, but hopefully we will soon enough get off the "high" of materialism. Some materialism is good, but I think at times it's just too much in our society. Educational reform is badly needed, I agree. We should start firstly from cracking down on the bribes in universities and pay the teachers better.

Right now a degree from Armenia is not even worth the paper is written on! I don't really think the problem is materialism but the fact that people don't see the value of an education. If you see that a person can get a job just by knowing someone why would you study? Also the street culture in Armenia where studying is something bad and you should do as little as possible.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia and Books

Right now a degree from Armenia is not even worth the paper is written on! I don't really think the problem is materialism but the fact that people don't see the value of an education. If you see that a person can get a job just by knowing someone why would you study? Also the street culture in Armenia where studying is something bad and you should do as little as possible.

Well people who really want a degree usually try to study abroad. The problem with that is, then people don't want to return, which is natural I guess. When it comes to street culture, I doubt you can find a country where the street culture is pro-education, I think it's more institutional reform that is needed.

[KarotheGreat]

Re: Armenia and Books

Well people who really want a degree usually try to study abroad. The problem with that is, then people don't want to return, which is natural I guess. When it comes to street culture, I doubt you can find a country where the street culture is pro-education, I think it's more institutional reform that is needed.

If they come to Europe for a degree they are not allowed to stay here and work here, they will have to go back or else stay as illegals. I don't think that it is that natural, because the real wage in Armenia is higher than the one in Europe for highly educated people.

The street culture everywhere is anti-education that is true, but Armenians are a people that live more or less outside. Especially young males, so the problem in Armenia is much bigger than in most of Europe.