from the Huffington Post
'Screamers,' a documentary by Carla Garapedian, just won the Audience Award at the AFI Film Festival. It uses archival footage, interviews, and live music to reflect on the Armenian genocide, its aftermath, and the effect that later denials of the atrocity had on history.
'Screamers' examines efforts to have the Armenian genocide internationally recognized, and ties it to other genocides, past and present - particularly Darfur.
It's a powerful document, both politically and artistically.
The film centers around the highly popular Armenian-American rock band System of a Down and its lead singer, Serj Tankian, as they tour Europe and discuss the issues of Armenia, genocide, and human rights.
Last week I spoke with Serj about the film and his own political work. Serj cofounded Axis of Justice with Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, to mobilize musicians and music fans around progressive issues.
Here are some excerpts from our conversation:
Huff Post: What politicized you? As an Armenian-American, was it your family's memories of the Armenian genocide?
Serj: It was the denial of genocide, more than the genocide itself, that politicized me. I was troubled by the idea that this kind of violence could occur, only to be ignored or covered up. It made me feel I had to act and react. There are so many things going on in the world today that are receiving the same treatment - including, but not limited to Darfur and Rwanda.
In a way, the hypocrisy of the denial is more politicizing than the act itself. I think that the memory of Armenia's genocide opened my eyes at an early age to the existence of political cynicism.
Huff Post: What's your definition of "genocide"? The diplomatic community has one, but does the word have a more personal meaning for you?
Serj: My thing is figuring out how to put things in a simple way, so here's my definition: If someone gets attacked because they look different, act different, or pray differently, that's genocide. And if the mass execution of a people is organized and perpetrated by a government, that's definitely genocide.
But anytime people are made to suffer as a group because they're different from others - to me, that's genocide too...[READ MORE]
Religion and Arts
Religious belief is not just a philosophical issue - it divides families and societies. That is why theatre is uniquely placed to explore it
We are living through yet another period of strife prompted by certainties and doubts about religion. As a result, debate about the justification of religious commitment is increasing in volume and heat. Theatre is uniquely placed to explore such questions, as it can show audiences what such differences of opinion mean in the context of human lives. This is what Mick Gordon and I are seeking to do in our play On Religion, which opens at London's Soho Theatre next week.
As director of the "On Theatre" project, Gordon aims to explore some of the most profound issues in contemporary society: previous productions have been entitled On Death and On Ego. In the summer of 2005, he contacted me with the intriguing invitation to collaborate with him in writing a play about religion. While on holiday, he had read a book of mine called What Is Good? and he wished to explore ways to portray some of the issues raised in it on stage.
The book traces the history of western civilisation's competing conceptions of value. The first conception, which I call "humanist", says that our concept of good is generated from our understanding of human nature and society. According to the second, which is explicitly religious, good consists in obedience to or con- formity with the will of a transcendent lawgiver...[READ MORE]
Sports
Bettman warns Penguins' future uncertain if casino plan nixed
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman warned Tuesday that the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh is uncertain if the Isle of Capri casino chain isn't awarded a license next month to build a slot machines parlor in the city.
Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has promised to build a $290 million arena to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena, at no cost to taxpayers or the team, if awarded the license. The other two applicants are expected to provide money toward an arena, but neither would fully fund a new building.
"If the Isle of Capri doesn't get the license, we've got a lot of uncertainty to deal with, and it's best for everybody and the franchise that we're not dealing in uncharted and uncertain waters," Bettman said.
With the Penguins free to relocate once their Mellon Arena lease expires in June, city and county officials are working on an alternate plan if Isle of Capri doesn't get the license. Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato has pledged an arena will be built even if it is not fully paid for by casino money, and parcels of land near Mellon Arena already have been acquired for the project...[READ MORE]
MUSIC
Featured Album: Architecture in Helsinki - We Died, They Remixed
AIH - "Tiny Paintings (Squeak E. Clean and Koool G. remix)"
AIH - "Need to Shout (Mocky mix)"
AIH - "Cemetary (New Buffalo mix)"
AIH- "Rendezvous (Isan mix)"
Featured Tracks:
Feist - "Lover's Spit"
The Black Keys - "I'll Be Your Man"
The Shins - "A Comet Appears"
Tapes n' Tapes - "50's Parking"