The Cartonera Project
SUSTAINING DEMOCRATIZED LITERATURE'S
Embedded Files
Cartonera is a social, political and artistic publishing movement that began in Argentina in 2003 and has since spread to countries throughout Latin America and, more recently, to Europe and Africa. Created in response to the 2001 economic crisis during which the Argentine peso plummeted to one third of its value. The tough economic conditions led to an increase in the number of cartoneros, people who make their living collecting and selling salvaged materials to recycling plants. Cartonera books are made from cardboard bought from cartoneros at three to five times the price set by recycling plants. The cardboard is then used to create covers for short books of prose or poetry. Each book cover is hand painted and sold on the streets at the cost of production in order to increase access to literature. This method of publication has provided the opportunity for unknown authors to be published, as well as for renowned authors to reach a more diverse audience. Beyond selling affordable books, the cartoneras promote literacy and the democratization of literature through workshops and book fairs which bring the greater public in contact with literature. The cartonera publishers also involve the community in the process of book creation and distribution through a cooperative learning experience which pushes aside educational and socioeconomic divides among participants. The books are generally published in small editions of 100 or fewer; however, popular texts are kept in print or printed through neighboring cartoneras (wikipedia.org)
Puentistas at the Carnival of Knowledge
San Diego City College
As a “cooperative learning experience [that] pushes aside educational and socioeconomic divides,” our cartonera project is intended to do just that—build bridges in communities where physical and/or figurative borders might exist. There’s nothing more powerful than the newly empowered voice, el grito, the soul-howl, in print, on stage, and engaged.
As a “cooperative learning experience [that] pushes aside educational and socioeconomic divides,” our cartonera project is intended to do just that—build bridges in communities where physical and/or figurative borders might exist. There’s nothing more powerful than the newly empowered voice, el grito, the soul-howl, in print, on stage, and engaged.
To take this class project further, students are strongly encouraged to pass this knowledge to others, creating opportunities for family, friends and strangers to empower their own voices. In short, our challenge is to organize community workshops, one-on-one book-making sessions, and/or video tutorials, spreading this storytelling campaign like an infectious word virus.
To take this class project further, students are strongly encouraged to pass this knowledge to others, creating opportunities for family, friends and strangers to empower their own voices. In short, our challenge is to organize community workshops, one-on-one book-making sessions, and/or video tutorials, spreading this storytelling campaign like an infectious word virus.
Google Sites
Report abuse