The First Annual Student Conference on American Studies “Two Americas: Past, Present, Future”
The first annual student conference on American Studies “Two Americas: Past, Present, Future” was organized by American Studies Students Scientific Group, the Institute of American Studies and Georgian Association for American Studies in partnership with the student self-government at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University on March 30, 2013.
30 students from the different Georgian high institutions selected by the organizational committee participated in the conference and presented their reports in three sections: The Tendencies of the Social-Economic Development of “Two Americas” (chairperson: Elene Medzmariashvili), The History and Politics of “Two Americas” (chairperson: Vasil Kacharava) and The Culture of “Two Americas”: Similarity and Difference (chairperson: Lasha Chakhvadze).
The aim of the conference was to meet students interested in American studies and encourage them to work further in the American Studies scientific field. The invited guests, representatives from the academic and scientific spheres as well as students attended the conference opening.
Public Affairs officer from the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Michael Turner welcomed to the conference participants and said that it was a great honor for him to meet them who want to learn more about his country [the United States of America].
During his opening speech at the conference Vasil Kacharava, the director of the Georgian Association for American Studies, head of the American Studies Institute and the coordinator of the American Studies bachelor’s program at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, highlighted that the conference was the special event, because it was arranged by the support of the professors and organized by student Mariam Khatiashvili and students around her.
Elene Medzmariashvili, the coordinator of the American Studies masters and doctoral programs and the scientific head of the American Studies Students scientific group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, drew her attention to the diverse themes of the presentations: “These topics carry a lot of issues, it is the widest spectrum, and these are very interesting reports”.
Mariam Khatiashvili, the chairperson of the American Studies Students Scientific Group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, implementer and organizer of the conference thanked the professors, Vasil Kacharava and Elene Medzmariashvili for the boosting the motivation and all volunteer students who helped her for the organizational affairs. Moreover, she said that the excellent reports written by the students themselves showed their great interest for the participation in the conference.
Goga Chanadiri, eminent Georgian photo reporter exhibited his photos in a digital way at the conference opening. During the digital photo exhibition “Travelling in South America” the photojournalist showed photographs from his journey in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama and talked about the rich ethnographic facts. This panel was fulfilled with the interactive Q & A session.
This conference was remarkable for several reasons, the most significant was that volunteer students were assembled for the first time and coordinated by the chairperson of the ASSSG to actively participate in conference organizational affairs. The volunteers - photographer Nina Babalashvili, video support Tamuna Shvelidze, Tamta Bibiluri, Mariam Chanturia, Diana Dumbadze, Tatia Vakhtangadze, Nino Jokhadze, Nika Kutateladze and Levan Pruidze were actively involved in this dynamic activity.
Conference participants were:
· Nino Kobaladze, The Modern Challenges of the U.S. Economy
· Nana Maisuradze, View of Business Philosophy in American reality
· Beka Naochashvili, The Main Aspects of Economic Cooperation between the Georgia and the United States
· Nino Chikviladze, Smoking: Sharing the USA Experience to Georgia
· Ia Sartania, The Influence of Gambling on American and Georgian Teenagers
· Nikoloz Khatiashvili, The Future Perspectives of American Foreign Policy
· Mariam Khatiashvili, South American Countries Reaction at the Adoption of Monroe Doctrine
· Andrew Mills, Patriarchy and the Body: Feminist Theories on the Construction of Power
· Aslan Artmeladze, Misguided Foreign Policy, as Demo-Geographic Change Factor (Example of Paraguay)
· Mariam Gazashvili, “The Gold Rush” and Georgian Mike Mito”
· Nana Ivaniashvili, Lasha Katsiashvili, Trans Border Geo-Economic War (Example of the U.S. - Mexico)
· Shota Silagava, Several Aspects of American Constitutionalism
· Vladimir Sanadze, The U.S. Role on Georgia’s Way to Independence
· Vaja Beltadze, Comparative Analysis of Prosecution in US and Georgian Legislations
· Mariam Marjanishvili, On an Article in “Mamuli” Journal
· Evelina Tarashvili, Teona Shavlokhashvili, Georgian Translations of the Novel “Cat in the Rain” by Ernest Hemingway
· Mariam Bakradze, Georgia and Latin American Soap Operas
· Salome Kajaia, Lena Grove’s Artistic Image in William Faulkner Novel “Light in August”
· Mariam Kakitashvili, Nino Sabadze, Marcel Duchamp - Dadaism in America by Ready Made
· Tamar Kalichava, Literary Paradigms of Totalitarianism (Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
· Maia Sigua, John Cage and Opera: Dispatch to Europe
· Tamar Shvelidze, Modern Art in Alaska
· Tinatin Janjghava, A Woman in Art (American-Georgian contrast)
· Nino Beruashvili, Pikria Gogiashvili, Latin-American Dances as a Part of the World Art Treasure
· Inga Adamia, Byron’s Attitude toward America
All Participants were awarded with certificates for the conference participation.
30 students from the different Georgian high institutions selected by the organizational committee participated in the conference and presented their reports in three sections: The Tendencies of the Social-Economic Development of “Two Americas” (chairperson: Elene Medzmariashvili), The History and Politics of “Two Americas” (chairperson: Vasil Kacharava) and The Culture of “Two Americas”: Similarity and Difference (chairperson: Lasha Chakhvadze).
The aim of the conference was to meet students interested in American studies and encourage them to work further in the American Studies scientific field. The invited guests, representatives from the academic and scientific spheres as well as students attended the conference opening.
Public Affairs officer from the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Michael Turner welcomed to the conference participants and said that it was a great honor for him to meet them who want to learn more about his country [the United States of America].
During his opening speech at the conference Vasil Kacharava, the director of the Georgian Association for American Studies, head of the American Studies Institute and the coordinator of the American Studies bachelor’s program at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, highlighted that the conference was the special event, because it was arranged by the support of the professors and organized by student Mariam Khatiashvili and students around her.
Elene Medzmariashvili, the coordinator of the American Studies masters and doctoral programs and the scientific head of the American Studies Students scientific group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, drew her attention to the diverse themes of the presentations: “These topics carry a lot of issues, it is the widest spectrum, and these are very interesting reports”.
Mariam Khatiashvili, the chairperson of the American Studies Students Scientific Group at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, implementer and organizer of the conference thanked the professors, Vasil Kacharava and Elene Medzmariashvili for the boosting the motivation and all volunteer students who helped her for the organizational affairs. Moreover, she said that the excellent reports written by the students themselves showed their great interest for the participation in the conference.
Goga Chanadiri, eminent Georgian photo reporter exhibited his photos in a digital way at the conference opening. During the digital photo exhibition “Travelling in South America” the photojournalist showed photographs from his journey in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama and talked about the rich ethnographic facts. This panel was fulfilled with the interactive Q & A session.
This conference was remarkable for several reasons, the most significant was that volunteer students were assembled for the first time and coordinated by the chairperson of the ASSSG to actively participate in conference organizational affairs. The volunteers - photographer Nina Babalashvili, video support Tamuna Shvelidze, Tamta Bibiluri, Mariam Chanturia, Diana Dumbadze, Tatia Vakhtangadze, Nino Jokhadze, Nika Kutateladze and Levan Pruidze were actively involved in this dynamic activity.
Conference participants were:
· Nino Kobaladze, The Modern Challenges of the U.S. Economy
· Nana Maisuradze, View of Business Philosophy in American reality
· Beka Naochashvili, The Main Aspects of Economic Cooperation between the Georgia and the United States
· Nino Chikviladze, Smoking: Sharing the USA Experience to Georgia
· Ia Sartania, The Influence of Gambling on American and Georgian Teenagers
· Nikoloz Khatiashvili, The Future Perspectives of American Foreign Policy
· Mariam Khatiashvili, South American Countries Reaction at the Adoption of Monroe Doctrine
· Andrew Mills, Patriarchy and the Body: Feminist Theories on the Construction of Power
· Aslan Artmeladze, Misguided Foreign Policy, as Demo-Geographic Change Factor (Example of Paraguay)
· Mariam Gazashvili, “The Gold Rush” and Georgian Mike Mito”
· Nana Ivaniashvili, Lasha Katsiashvili, Trans Border Geo-Economic War (Example of the U.S. - Mexico)
· Shota Silagava, Several Aspects of American Constitutionalism
· Vladimir Sanadze, The U.S. Role on Georgia’s Way to Independence
· Vaja Beltadze, Comparative Analysis of Prosecution in US and Georgian Legislations
· Mariam Marjanishvili, On an Article in “Mamuli” Journal
· Evelina Tarashvili, Teona Shavlokhashvili, Georgian Translations of the Novel “Cat in the Rain” by Ernest Hemingway
· Mariam Bakradze, Georgia and Latin American Soap Operas
· Salome Kajaia, Lena Grove’s Artistic Image in William Faulkner Novel “Light in August”
· Mariam Kakitashvili, Nino Sabadze, Marcel Duchamp - Dadaism in America by Ready Made
· Tamar Kalichava, Literary Paradigms of Totalitarianism (Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
· Maia Sigua, John Cage and Opera: Dispatch to Europe
· Tamar Shvelidze, Modern Art in Alaska
· Tinatin Janjghava, A Woman in Art (American-Georgian contrast)
· Nino Beruashvili, Pikria Gogiashvili, Latin-American Dances as a Part of the World Art Treasure
· Inga Adamia, Byron’s Attitude toward America
All Participants were awarded with certificates for the conference participation.