What is it about?
Sergei Parajanov noted that he was an Armenian, born in Georgia, educated in Moscow, and arrested in Kiev for Ukrainian nationalism. He was also the quintessential idealized Soviet subject of the Caucasus. Parajanov directed a series of highly experimental films that are impossible to categorize. He began work on his “Confession” (Ispoved’) an autobiographical script exploring his upbringing, as an Armenian, in Tiflis/Tbilisi. This paper examines “Confession” in an effort to decipher Parajanov’s self-image as a Armenian/Soviet director from Tbilisi.
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Why is it important?
Discusses the life of a decidely non-nationalist Soviet film director who's legacy, partially with his own assistance, became appropriated to the cause of Armenian nationalism. Given the incendiary politics in the former Soviet Union, this article is very timely, and relevant.
Perspectives
I began my "academic life" as a rather traditional historian of Imperial Russia. However, during travels to Armenia over the past twenty years, annual travels, I became ever more familiar with Sergei Parajanov's stature in modern Armenian naition-building. I was a regular (almost daily) visitor at times to the Sergei Parajanov museum, where much of my research and writing took place. The museum, especially, inspired my interest in Parajanov.
Steven Usitalo
Northern State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Juxtapositions and Inventions: Sergei Parajanov, Ispoved’, and Armenian Identity, Caucasus Survey, September 2023, Brill Deutschland GmbH,
DOI: 10.30965/23761202-bja10025.
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