In(Sight) House Talks: “The Chants of Our Hearts”

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — On March 21, the Akian Art Gallery at the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the third In(Sight) House Talks series event featuring Mariana Safaryan’s (BAEC ’23) research project, “The Chants of Our Hearts.” The series is part of a larger initiative, Oral History Matters, which aims to amplify the importance of oral history as a research methodology. In(Sight) House Talks spotlights ten oral history-based capstone projects from the In(Sight) House exhibition, which took place earlier in August 2023.

Safaryan presented her capstone project as well as her documentary film, shining light on the football narratives of five Armenian women, including Safaryan herself. The textual part of her talk explained the epistemological and methodological foundations of her research while shedding light on the issues prevalent in women’s football. 

Based on oral history interviews and self-study, Safaryan’s documentary film explores the narrators’ connections to football and the experience of being a woman interested in a sport that is predominantly viewed as “masculine.” The narrators reflected on the stereotypes and injustices in women’s football through their personal stories as footballers and football fans. 

“By spotlighting women’s voices, my film aims to show that one does not have to fit into certain boxes to fully enjoy football and feel like a valued member of the community it offers,” Safaryan explained in her artist statement.

Safaryan’s research intended to redefine football and show it from a new perspective through women’s narratives. Her goal was to show that human connections and emotions are what truly represent the power of football. 

The talk, which was followed by a screening of Safaryan’s film and an extensive Q&A session, opened up a space for discussion about women’s involvement in sports and the importance of voicing their narratives, especially about a topic that has always been overlooked. It also highlighted the crucial role of self-study and the importance of oral history in doing feminist, anti-oppressive research. 

Oral History Matters seeks to dismantle dominant research practices by bringing oral history to the forefront and challenging conventional narratives.In(Sight) House was an exhibition that spotlighted the research projects of ten students from the English and Communications department, each of whom delved into oral history to explore and narrate stories that resonate deeply with the human experience. The Akian Gallery underwent a transformation during the In(Sight) House exhibition, becoming a symbolic house where each room was dedicated to showcasing the work of a different student. This creative approach allowed visitors to step into the world of each student’s research and experience the diverse stories firsthand.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.