Collaborative narratives: Carnaval in Mexico as a practice of social restitution

Abstract

This Beyond the Text contribution offers a collective sociological interpretation of carnival practices in central Mexico through a community-focused brochure produced as part of a research project examining equality, diversity and inclusion in carnivals. Grounded on ethnographic observations and co-produced narratives with carnival organisers, the brochure documents 10 local carnivals that, despite their historical continuity and considerable cultural significance, remain largely unexplored in global festival and event scholarship. As both an academic output and a sociocultural artefact originating in the Global South, it functions as an act of social restitution by returning accessible knowledge to the communities who co-created it. The article reflects on the situated methodological and ethical processes that guided its development, arguing that such practices challenge extractivist research traditions and assert methodological sovereignty. By engaging creatively with visual and narrative forms, this contribution amplifies Latin American perspectives within global sociological debates.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Sociological Research Online, 2026 · DOI ↗