The Antinomies of Realism

Abstract

**Abstract:** In *The Sounds of Silence II: Diyarbakır’s Armenians Speak*, Ferda Balancar employs oral history interviews to explore the cultural, religious, and political experiences of Turkey's Armenian diaspora over the past century. The book centers on 16 interviews with male and female Armenians from various locations including İstanbul, Diyarbakır, Lebanon, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Yerevan. Balancar aims to trace the historical trajectories of Armenians, question their life stories, and reconstruct their cultural and political presence in Diyarbakır. The foreword by Ali Bayramoğlu challenges the notion that forgetting can build a new Armenian nation, advocating instead for remembering through "golden silence"—a peaceful approach that honors past suffering without fostering resentment. Each chapter offers unique perspectives on identity, memory, and resilience, highlighting both the hardships faced by Armenians in reclaiming their heritage and their hopes for the future. Through these narratives, Balancar underscores the importance of oral history as a tool for preserving cultural continuity and fostering intergenerational understanding.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)