The intertwined text, bearing and textile writing. Symbolic stitches from current Latin American contexts

Abstract

This paper explores the evolution and significance of intertwined texts as forms of communication and cultural expression. By understanding them as media, they are analyzed from their conceptualization as spaces for reflection, as well as in their role as species (Scolari, 2015; Albarello, 2019). They are considered as materialities that offer ways of reading through their material production, form, and transmission of practices ranging from political advocacy, cultural resistance, collective memory, to personal expression. The study focuses on the transformation of these texts from their bearing in festivities to their adaptation on digital platforms, where they have become tools for activism and political statements. Examples are included, such as the Fiesta de la Flor más Bella del Ejido (Xochimilco), the work of Las Arpilleras in Chile, and the collective Familiares Caminando por Justicia in Mexico. Additionally, we examine how digitalization has allowed these texts to gain greater visibility and power in the global public sphere. Finally, the article highlights how embroidery and weaving not only convey cultural and affective meanings but also track social and political practices, opening a field of study in disciplines such as art, social pedagogy, and sociology.