Jia Tolentino spoke with Kevin Dettmar, director of the Humanities studio, at Pomona College’s Rose Hills Theater on Nov. 9 as part of the ongoing Joy Speaker Series. Tolentino delved into her evolving perspectives on joy, from ecstasy to quieter, simpler joy which she found in motherhood. She spoke about her complicated relationship with organized religion, experiences with transcendence and the intertwining of joy and sorrow. The talk concluded with an exploration of the unknown, as Tolentino emphasized the beauty and significance found in moments of mortality.
