As the inspiration for my entire research project, my Armenian roommate told me a lot about the large impact that the earthquake had on Armenian culture. We discussed how it had a huge impact on Armenian music and poetry. Many songs were made about the earthquake, ranging from mournful songs about lost mothers and children to proud, honoring songs about how the country will grow together and carry on the legacy of those that died. He taught me one of these songs (a short one, obviously, because we “had to sing it in Armenian” and I only know a tiny bit of Armenian) and we sang it together. He says it’s one of his favorite songs about the earthquake because it talks about the Armenians being united and carrying on for those who couldn’t. It simultaneously inspires a lot of nationalism and reflection on the disaster. It respects and honors the victims of the disaster in a way that doesn’t follow the typical mournful tones of other reflection. By being proud and strong, it remembers the victims not as needless, unnecessary deaths, but instead as Armenians who will live on forever in the heart of the community and the culture.

I really like this approach, especially after studying the disaster. I think it serves both the victims of the disaster and those who were luckily not victims in the best possibly way. I feel that it allows the victims to be honored and remembered better than a mournful hymn about all of the losses, and it simultaneously encourages the Armenians to not dwell on yet another devastating sorrow in their difficult modern history.

(Sorry, I know we’re not the best singers, but we like to sing anyways)