Visualizing Armenian History: From Literature to Film and Graphic Novels

Hear from Armenian American cinematic artist Roger Kupelian as he explores how historical narratives are brought to life through graphic novels, digital art, and film. Kupelian will discuss his creative process and how passion projects like his Warrior Saints web series evolve from concept to screen.

This program is offered as part of the UCLA Library Opening the Doors to Contemporary Literature series and in celebration of Armenian History Month.

Raised in Sierra Leone, Roger Kupelian is a multi-faceted cinematic artist who has contributed to major Hollywood productions for nearly three decades. Fluent in Krio, English, and Armenian, his love for cinema began in the rustic theaters of 1970s Freetown.

Kupelian's extensive credits include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Flags of Our Fathers, Alice in Wonderland, Space Jam, Marvel’s Moon Knight and Signs of Life for the Griffith Park Observatory. His visual work appears in official Lord of the Rings publications and a New Zealand stamp collection, and spans film, television, commercial projects, and his East of Byzantium graphic novel series. The third volume in the series is titled The Hammer, which centers on the Maccabees.

Kupelian was also an embedded filmmaker during the conflicts that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in the Caucasus, experiences that continue to inform the depth of his storytelling. Bridging traditional and modern techniques, he remains active in cinematic and educational spheres, most recently launching a new web series, Warrior Saints.