The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: info@nci.am
Website:

September 27, 2007

NCI Looks at the Influence of Foreign Films

Yerevan–The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
public hearing to examine the growing presence of dubbed foreign
movies in Armenia. The meeting brought together movie actors, theatric
performers, men and women of the arts and letters, social activists,
leading analysts, government officials, MPs, and media
representatives.

NCI associate Davit Hakobian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks. "Since the dubbing of foreign films into Armenian is a
societal demand and a fact, a comprehensive discussion of this matter
becomes all the more imperative," he said.

In his intervention, film critic Zaven Boyajian focused on the
negative and positive aspects of dubbing motion pictures into
Armenian. In his view, the practice of dubbing has not yet taken shape
in Armenia, but this gap is being filled–and at least an attempt is
being made–by the television companies and H1 public television in
particular. According to Boyajian, H1 is now dubbing all foreign
movies into Armenian and thus is breaking the stereotypes left behind
>From the Soviet era when only Russian-language dubbing was deemed
acceptable. The speaker also emphasized that the dubbing process is a
chain of sequences, and if any one of the sequences is faulty it will
be impossible to receive a good-quality product. "Personally, I am
against dubbing because such intrusion into a work of art damages its
integral structure," he argued. This notwithstanding, Boyajian also
considered the dubbing of movies into Armenian a necessity since a
large cross-section of the population prefers to view foreign motion
pictures, including poor-quality and second-rate productions. In
Boyajian’s firm belief, an unsophisticated language is used in dubbed
films and its root cause is the lack of professional translators.

In her turn, NCI colleague Voskehat Isakhanian spoke about the impact
which the dubbing of foreign films has on Armenian culture. She
expressed a deep concern specifically with respect to the poor-quality
dubbing of such movies which, in her view, are for the most part alien
to the traditional Armenian mindset. According to Isakhanian, these
motion pictures depict events and practices that are unacceptable for
the Armenian people and could be detrimental to the education of the
young generation. "Aside from the simplistic scenarios, improper and
vulgar language has likewise become an ordinary thing nowadays," she
maintained. On the other hand, Isakhanian noted that films such as
"Carlito’s Way," "Julius Caesar," "The Youngest Godfather," and
"Spartacus" are productions of great family value.

The remainder of the session was dedicated to an exchange of views and
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in
attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by Heritage MP Stepan
Safarian; prominent actors Karen Janibekian, Varuzhan Manukian, Arthur
Karapetian, Luiza Ghambarian, and Satenik Hakhnazarian; director and
producer Haik Ordian; NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian; film critic
Siranush Galstian; journalists Ruzanna Poghosian and Ruzan Zakarian;
NCI media relations director Lilit Sarukhanian; and several others.

Who is thinking about the ethical, social, and psychological
consequences of airing poor-quality films? Are the country’s
authorities prepared to assume responsibility for overcoming the
adverse effects of such movies, perhaps through a program of support
for domestic film production? How can we prevent the apparent retreat
of spiritual values? These were the primary civic concerns expressed
by the roundtable participants during the exchange of opinions and
recommendations.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign
Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with
the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in
the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National
Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law
and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy,
Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the
vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email info@nci.am; or visit