The Politics of Joy: Collective Art Practices Across Borders

Drawing on ethnographic research with Latinx artists and musicians in East L.A. and Veracruz, Mexico, Yana Stainova traces communities of collective art making across national borders, languages, and generations. She studies how artists articulate and experience a “politics of joy,” insisting on their right to joy in the face of violence, discrimination, and marginalization. By creating together, these artists generate community and enact their dreams for the future.