Author and host: HaykHambardzumyan
TOPIC hosts men of culture, clergymen, renowned filmmakers and actors, Armenian and foreign scientists, scholars of Armenian studies, young specialists, writers and journalists residing in and outside Armenia.
How much do the contemporary Armenian art and literature relate to the development trends of world art? What new Armenian studies are currently underway in Armenia and Diaspora? Does the modern art educate or it rather entertains? These and other questions are voiced and answered in the pavilion of TOPIC.  
Frequency: Every Friday, at 21:50
Rerun: Saturday, at 13:30

From Civil Revolt to Civil Consciousness


What implications and consequences can have this all-national movement? What achievements are already visible, how to transform the power of revolt into civil consciousness? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with ethnographer Mkhitar Gabrielyan. 
 

Diaspora and Velvet Revolution


The Diaspora also invested its time and participation in the Velvet revolution. Parallel to rallies in Armenia, marches and demonstrations took place in different communities of Armenia. What was the coverage of this support, did it cover all the layers of the Diaspora and, in general, what is the attitude towards these recent developments in the Diaspora? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan talked about these issues with Dr. Vahe Sahakyan, an expert in Diaspora issues, Doctor of Oriental Studies at the University of Michigan.
 

 

State Support of Art: Incentive or Control?


What should be the state policy in the sector of art in order to encourage creative freedom, to ensure conditions for the artist's work, but not control the artist and the content of his/her work? What is the role of creative art unions in our reality and what is the demand for their activities? Is there a need for publishing books with state support and what are those books to be published with state support?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with poet and translator Hakob Movses.
 

 

History Textbook As Means of Legitimacy for the Authorities


History textbooks have critical role in shaping the historical consciousness of society. Being a state-ordered and funded book, the textbook is inevitably perceived as a propaganda tool for the authorities, an ideological battle field, and etc. Why is it so, and how was the history of the first Armenian Republic in particular, reflected in the Armenian history textbooks? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan talked about this with historian Smbat Hovhannisyan.
 

New Reality and the Vision of Education Reform


There are numerous problems in the field of education, ranging from corruption to the necessity of introducing new educational programs, with the adjustment of educational objectives in general, which require immediate solutions. Are those in charge of sector reforms and the system itself ready for reforms? How can and should education change in Armenia? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed those issues with education expert Serob Khachatryan.
 

Cultural Revolution


The vicious phenomena distorting public life, although often seem to be linked only to political, legal, or economic circumstances, however, for intellectuals, for people closer to the art, it is evident that it is the cultural crisis behind everything, which is expressed,  for example, by the disrupted communication with art, indifference to literature, decline of reading, clarification of perceptions, concepts and values. 
Is a cultural revolution possible? And is it necessary at all?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with poet and translator Hakob Movses.
 

Matenadaran and the New Reality


Positive changes are taking place in Armenia. The society expects positive developments in cultural and scientific-educational spheres in parallel with the political, legal spheres. Particularly in the scientific system corruption, favoritism and politicism should be excluded, new models of effective management and financing of scientific institutions should be elaborated. 
Are the scientific organizations ready for such changes and how did the scientific world react to the revolution? What new publications and programs are there in Armenian Studies?
Hayk Hambardzumyan talked about these issues with Doctor of Historical Sciences, Scientific Research Director of Matendaran Karen Matevosyan.
 

New Education Environment: Precondition and Issues


Implementation of education reform is conditioned by the adjustment of educational objectives, the change of public attitude towards learning and development of enabling legislative framework. How and in what time frames can these conditions be met and who can implement these changes?
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed those issues with education expert Serob Khachatryan.
 

Life in the First Republic: Politics, Culture, Everyday Life


What was life like in the First Armenian Republic, how did people live, what films and performances they watched, was art developing, and what kind of writers were there? What were the relations of parties, church-state relations? The answers to these questions are hard to find in the history textbooks. 
Hayk Hambardzumyan talked to historian Hamo Sukiasyan about the culture, lifestyle and politics of the First Republic.
 

State Language Committee: From Fines to Developing Love to Language


The issues of the status of Armenian language, the need for protection, the prevention of language abuse and other related issues have been raised for many years but never received answers. What has changed in the new, post-revolutionary reality: is it the general atmosphere in the country, the new state policy that creates more favorable conditions for solving language development issues? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with linguist, the Chairman of the State Language Committee of the RA Ministry of Education and Science - David Gyurjinyan.
 

From the Wrath of Revolt to Creative Inspiration


The national movement, among other achievements, brought about a great creative force. How can the potential energy of the revolt be transformed into creative force and inspiration, how will this movement contribute to the modern Armenian art, to our cultural reality as a whole? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan discussed these issues with sculptor Mamikon Yengibaryan.
 

Quality and Accreditation of Higher Education


Despite the fact, that education experts, non-governmental organizations engaged in educational issues, lecturers and students have been talking for years about the poor quality of education, incompliance with the labor market requirements and related issues, yet Armenian educational institutions, particularly universities, successfully receive accreditation and continue working without introducing real changes.
What is the problem, how is the assessment and accreditation of educational institutions organized in Armenia at all? 
Hayk Hambardzumyan talked about these issues with Ruben Topchyan, Director of the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance Foundation.