Photo/Foto: Niki Kekos

Central Park Rumba: The Pavlovian Drum

Central Park Rumba: The Pavlovian Drum is a video installation that documents the public conflict between the rumba community and the NYC Police. This struggle brings to light the deeper historical significance of the African drum—particularly when used by slaves—in reviving an old fear of rebellion, an internalized national fear manifested through colonial as well as contemporary legislation.

Biography

Berta Jottar has a PhD in Performance Studies (NYU). Assistant Professor, Latina/o Studies Program, Williams College. Video artist-scholar interested in music and dance in the Afro-Latin Diaspora, border art, Latina/o and Latin American Theater and Performance.