When Imagination Serves Empathy | Armine Anda | TEDxAUA

Quick Overview

Armine Abrahamyan recounts her childhood dream of becoming an actress and how the pervasive media, fueled by imagination and empathy, ultimately led her to become a writer and creator, realizing that the stories she loved were not just about heroes but about the human connection and empathy they fostered.

Key Points: Armine Abrahamyan's childhood dream, starting when she was young in Armenia in 1992, was to become an actress, specifically wanting to play Ophelia in Hamlet. The strong energy of animated films, which were playing on TV at home, chased her and influenced her desire to be on screen. She realized the protagonists in the stories she loved (like Hamlet and Peter Pan) were never truly alone, which inspired her to write her own work. The books and films she consumed gave her 'particles' of what she is now, including the ability to serve empathy. She emphasizes the importance of imagination in storytelling, noting that the connection between imagination and empathy must be nurtured in children. The speaker suggests that we must make conscious choices to give stories to children and to look for the 'star' in every person, which is a powerful act of empathy.

Context: Armine Abrahamyan presents her personal journey during a TEDxAUA event themed 'Hide & Seek,' reflecting on how her childhood fascination with animated films and literature, particularly the characters who seemed heroic but were secretly lonely, shaped her path from aspiring actress to writer. She connects the act of creation with the essential human need for empathy, suggesting that storytelling is a vehicle for fostering this connection.

Detailed Analysis

Armine Abrahamyan begins by asking the audience to recall their childhood dreams, specifically mentioning her own dream of becoming an actress, which started when she was a drama student in Armenia in 1992. She vividly recalls being captivated by animated films shown on TV, which created an almost chasing energy that pulled her toward the screen. This early exposure led her to write stories, eventually creating a fantasy novel about a protagonist who, despite being the hero, felt profoundly alone. This realization—that the characters she admired, like Hamlet or Peter Pan, were never truly alone in the world because their stories were shared—was a pivotal moment. She discovered that the stories and films she consumed provided 'particles' of what she is now: a creator capable of serving empathy. Abrahamyan argues that imagination is crucial because it allows us to connect with the internal worlds of others. She points out that the protagonists in stories are not just heroes but often possess a hidden vulnerability, like loneliness, which requires empathy from the audience. She concludes by urging the audience to actively choose to give children stories and to look for the inherent 'star' in every person, emphasizing that this act of conscious choice and empathy is what truly matters.