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.
Tag: Joy
Rom-Com in Review: The case for joy In Asian American rom-coms
Asian American Rom-coms almost always revolve around intergenerational drama. As Asian American stories seem to receive more and more attention, columnist Nadia Hsu unpacks why the rom-com remains entrenched in family turmoil.
Alexis Pauline Gumbs leads an alphabetical activity on joy and dedication
On Thursday, Oct. 19, poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs spoke to a packed Rose Hills Theater at Pomona College on the topic “Remembering Joy,” exploring what it means to hold onto memories of happiness and loved ones. This evening’s topic became that of paying homage to the joy that centers around people and community.
OPINION: How to find joy in mundanity
Feeling mundanity settle into your life at the 5Cs? Michelle Zhang PO ’27 is here to help guide you through it.
Poet and essayist Ross Gay on why you don’t need to be an optimist to incite joy
Poet and essayist Ross Gay spoke at Rose Hills Theater on Sept. 14. He read selections from his collection of essays “Inciting Joy.” He shared his reflections on joy and its relationships with optimism, hope and suffering. Gay structured his talk as a collective conversation, with audience members sharing their experiences on discovering joy and passion.