Taking Form, Making Worlds: Cartonera Publishers in Latin America

The 2023 LASA Visual Culture Studies Section Book Prize was awarded to "Taking Form, Making Worlds: The Cartonera Movement in Latin America" for its comprehensive study of cartonera, a vibrant publishing phenomenon born in Latin America in the wake of Argentina's 2001 economic crisis. Cartonera uses cardboard salvaged from the street to create colorful, low-cost books, fostering a politically engaged network of writers, artists, and readers. It provides a platform for unique stories and sparks collaborations that bring down the walls of the "lettered city," promoting a decolonial aesthetics of resistance and creative experimentation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: University of Texas Press

The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is proud to announce the 2023 LASA Visual Culture Studies Section Book Prize, which recognizes the first comprehensive study of cartonera, a vibrant publishing phenomenon born in Latin America.

A publishing phenomenon and artistic project, cartonera emerged in the aftermath of Argentina's 2001 economic crisis, infused with a rebellious spirit. It has since gained widespread popularity, with hundreds of publishers across Latin America and Europe creating colorful, low-cost books out of cardboard salvaged from the streets.

"Taking Form, Making Worlds" is the first comprehensive study of cartonera. Drawing on interdisciplinary research conducted in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, the authors demonstrate how this hands-on practice has fostered a politically engaged network of writers, artists, and readers. Cartonera goes beyond a social movement, utilizing texts, workshops, encounters, and exhibitions to foster community and engagement through open-ended forms that are simultaneously artistic and social. It serves as a platform for unique stories and sparks collaborations that dismantle the walls of the "lettered city," creating a space for creative experimentation and the realization of plural worlds.

In contexts of stigma and exclusion, cartonera collectives give shape to a decolonial aesthetics of resistance, enabling the creation of a space where diverse perspectives and experiences can thrive. Through their innovative practices, cartonera publishers challenge dominant narratives and promote inclusivity, contributing to a more vibrant and inclusive literary landscape.

The 2023 LASA Visual Culture Studies Section Book Prize is a testament to the transformative power of literature and the creative potential of cartonera. We congratulate the authors for their groundbreaking work and look forward to seeing the continued impact of cartonera in the years to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477324950