Transnational affect and gender-based violence in Arizona, CY (2024)

Arts activisms and gender-based violence through transnational perspectives

Abstract

Arizona, CY (2024) blends original poetry and photography to forge narrative and visual connections between Arizona and Cyprus. Poems like After the raid, Where are you?, Emine, and Ledger illuminate real-life stories of trauma, exploitation, and gender-based violence (GBV) against women, exploring the intimate and structural dimensions of these experiences. The visual imagery – arid landscapes and resilient flora – symbolise the damage and survival from the shared histories of environmental devastation, interethnic tensions, and social injustice across these regions. Grounded in transnational feminism, this article examines how colonial legacies, migration, and economic disparities contribute to the perpetuation of GBV as a global phenomenon. Drawing on affect theory, trauma studies, and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s nomadic sensibility, we emphasise the work’s focus on resilience, empathy, and interconnectedness. Sara Ahmed’s concept of ‘sticky’ emotions, as well as Elizabeth A. Povinelli’s theories of abandonment and economies of value, provide frameworks for understanding how Arizona, CY fosters transnational solidarity by creating therapeutic social links and affective experiences. By respecting cultural specificity while challenging patriarchal structures at large, Arizona, CY highlights the transformative potential of empathy and rhizomatic thinking in addressing GBV. The work ultimately acts as a feminist praxis for fostering solidarity and change across borders and contexts.