Uncovering ‘The Hidden Map’

Photo Courtesy of Jeanine Hill

The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education kicked off its 2024-2025 lecture series with a screening of Ani Hovannisian’s “The Hidden Map.” The documentary showcases the struggles Armenians faced during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, while Hovannisian uncovers the true story of her family who survived the genocide. 

“It felt like a replanting of roots, in this wonderful, familiar environment that also brings back to life experiences of so many,” said Hovannisian in an interview by The Panther. “I feel like there is this little Armenia being nurtured at Chapman, because of the Armenian Student Association and people like Dr. (Marilyn) Harran and others who were able to draw so many to the event and make it a bigger experience.” 

The event began with Hovannisian sharing her work and passion for documenting and how her family’s origin and story influenced her work, and how her family’s story represents all Armenian stories. 

Hovannisian’s father, Richard Hovannisian, was a well-known historian, author and professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History at the University of California, Los Angeles and was a Presidential Fellow at Chapman. He published a four-volume book, “The Republic of Armenia,” discussing Ancient Armenia, its kingdoms and historical events. His close ties to Chapman allowed his daughter to continue the legacy. 

“My father carried the story of our grandparents, and parents before them, and their revival and survival of genocidal experiences. He committed his life’s purpose to keep that story alive and Chapman was a big part of that. And I got to be a part of that and so did my daughter,” Hovannisian said. 

For the documentary. Hovannisian traveled to the Anatolia region of Turkey, which was previously Armenia. Her journey began in Istanbul and then went to the villages of Adana, Erzurum and the historic village of Ani. These villages were the home to many Armenians who lived there during the 20th century and where the majority of events took place during the Armenian Genocide. 

She then met and was accompanied by Scottish explorer Steven Sim, who was exploring the region on his own, uncovering his own truth about the Armenian people and understanding how the genocide has affected modern-day Armenians. 

The screening was the first in the yearly lecture series hosted by the Center for Holocaust Education. Many students, colleagues and Armenians in the Chapman community attended the screening.

“I discovered the event through the Armenian Student Association at Chapman. During the screening, I felt deeply moved because it shed light on the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, particularly focusing on the denial of it,” said senior data science student Daniel Boudagian in an interview with The Panther. “I really connected with Ani’s journey, as she framed her story as a quest to find the home that had been taken from her. Most Armenians who were affected by the genocide never had the chance to return, so it was powerful to witness someone actually go back.” 

Boudagian’s family wasn’t directly affected by the genocide but was affected during the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Azerbaijan in the 1990s. “The ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide is at the root of much of the conflict and tension in Armenia and Artsakh,” Boudagian said. 

Uncovering the truth was not the only topic discussed in the documentary, but also how the truth continues to be buried in Turkey today, silencing the voices of those who perished and those who have survived. 

The Armenian Genocide and the existence of Armenians in the region are still being buried in Turkey today. In the documentary, audiences see Hovannisian and Sim confront Turkish people who currently live in the villages that Armenians used to live in. It’s a firsthand look into how denial and hatred have been passed down through generations, but while many deny it, there are some people who still remember the Armenians and share their stories. 

“There is overflowing evidence on the genocide, the New York Times and and many other international publications have articles during the time covering the actions done by Turkey. It has been proven in court, in archives, in countless books and publications and oral histories, there is no mistake to be made that the genocide happened,” Hovannisian said. 

In 2020, over 100,000 Armenians were ethnically cleansed from the historic region of Nagorno-Karabakh or Artsakh. When asked about this conflict, Hovannisian shared how her trip to Artsakh before the war are memories she will always cherish. 

“In my viewpoint, what has happened in Artsakh is an absolute continuation of intent and vital effort to get rid of Armenians. I saw the central square in Artsakh filled with thousands of children dancing and laughing with families, filled with life. And then turning to 2020, when Armenians were first expelled, seeing burned homes and an empty region. It is unfathomable of what the Armenians have gone through,” Hovannisian said.