Der Mugrdechian Gives Presentation on Saroyan Works for Osher Lifelong Program

Staff Report

Barlow Der Mugrdechian (left) with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute director Shirley Bruegman

William Saroyan: Views on Identity and Ethnicity,” was the focus of a course taught by Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program, on two consecutive Thursday afternoons, February 21 and February 28, as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Fresno State.

Der Mugrdechian discussed the early influences on Saroyan, those that had a life long impact on the writer, such as the death of his father and living in an orphanage for five years.

Saroyan’s views on identity and ethnicity were informed by his family and the Fresno Armenian community where he grew up. The tightly knit community faced prejudice and discrimination, while Saroyan refused to reject his Armenian heritage.

Two books, William Saroyan: An Armenian Trilogy and Saroyan and the Armenians, that provided many examples of Saroyan’s thoughts on identity and ethnicity, were discussed by the class.

Class participation was encouraged and there was lively discussion.

“Armenians” and “Haratch” are examples of plays that Saroyan wrote in the last twenty years of his life, where he carefully expressed his views on Armenian identity. Both plays explore the concept of Armenianness in two very different settings, one in Fresno in the 1920s, the other in the office of the newspaper Haratch in Paris, France.

Saroyan’s views on identity are an integral part of his literary production. The class enjoyed the discussion and the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments to the instructor.