ANSEF Women-Led Group Explores the Evolution of Armenian Folklore

When Nvard Vardanyan first considered applying for FAR’s Yervant Terzian Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF) grant, she wasn’t sure she stood a chance. “Everyone told me it was too competitive, especially for non-STEM topics. But I thought, why not give it a try?,” said Nvard who applied and received the grant in 2024.

An associate professor at Yerevan State University, Nvard received the grant to explore “The Reflection of the 44-Day War in Traditional and Non-Traditional Genres of Artsakh Folklore.” Her research examines how war narratives take shape through both oral traditions and digital platforms, providing insight into how Armenians preserve their history and collective memory. She frankly acknowledges that while she once studied fairy tales and folk games, the 2020 Artsakh war and the 2023 displacement compelled her to take on the urgent responsibility of preserving Artsakh folklore.

Alongside her research team, Anahit Khechoyan and Lusine Hayriyan, Nvard has built a dynamic team that is making significant progress in the field. Anahit, 26, brings a fresh perspective to internet folklore, an emerging yet largely unexplored area in Armenian studies.

“She was my student,” Nvard recalls. “From her very first year, she was fascinated by modern folklore, how it spreads online and evolves in real time. Our collaboration was inevitable.” This marks the first time such a study has been conducted in Armenia, making it a landmark in folklore research. Lusine, meanwhile, focuses on war songs, tracing their evolution and deep cultural significance across generations.

In October, Nvard and her colleagues presented their findings on war songs at a conference in Vienna dedicated to Komitas. The research resonated deeply with an international audience, emphasizing the universal role of folklore in resilience and remembrance. “This isn’t just about documenting the past,” she says. “It’s about understanding how we, as a people, continue to tell our story in a changing world.”

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