There are sectors that have been changed very quickly over these 23 years. For example, the trade. Initially, tables, then kiosks, later small shops, and now, supermarkets and hypermarkets. Supermarkets obviously are too many, they should not be that much in the center of the capital. Their owners, as a rule, are representatives of the oligarchy. But to say that the supermarket itself is a negative phenomenon, it would be wrong: clean, bright halls, cool in summer, warm in winter, smiling staff, cameras, cash register receipts (CCM checks). It seems to me that it is convenient, no matter what kind of curses are voiced to their address.
Or, for example, the media. Over 20 years, tremendous changes have been taken place. Again, not always for the better. However, with the intensity of passing the information, of course, they are much more “equipped”. The level of accountability, yes, it has been significantly dropped, and social networks began to compete with pure journalism. Anyway, there is no need for grumbling here, it is an intensive developing sector, which after numerous attempts and mistakes will create a new quality.
And now the sector of education. Whoever says something, it is still in the Soviet naphthalene. When I hear the nostalgia sounds of what a superb education was delivered to children and young people in the past, I am also approaching this with reservation. Wonderful, a system that has no market relations, ignoring the interests of up-to-date employers, not formulating distinct objectives. This remains until today. The reforms are copied from some western schemes, and, as a rule, they refer to the form, and not the content. Not to speak about the science, it is the domain of senile sufferers.
The same about the culture. I mean, of course, not the show-business, which though in our provincial patterns is evolving. The matter is about the culture that forms a taste and stirs the mind. The schemes are still Soviet here, and the Ministry of Culture is another hearth of swampy bureaucracy. Recently, the issues of opera are discussed, and it is a very good example. Opera continues to be perceived as a museum of decoration and luxury, which should provide “classic episodes” for the Soviet solemn concerts. Those in charge of the sector, probably, are not watching Mezzo, are not watching opera and ballet performances of western theatre on DVD and Internet, which are absolutely devoid of ostentation and are completely focused on the content.
In fact, Barsegh Tumanyan had submitted an application to the head of the Opera House. If he agrees to take this burden on him, there is nothing to think about the choice of the director.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
