The Culture of Residencies Between Non-Memorized-Living-Traditions and Social Exchange

Abstract

The essay compares the different types of theater residencies recognized by the MiC (Ministry of Culture), the regions, and the provinces, pointing out that between the “residency centers” and the “artists in the territories” residencies, there are both differences indicative of their distinct cultural positionings and similarities that reflect the underlying mentality of Italian theater professionals, particularly young talents. This mentality tends to ignore the logic of historical continuity, and relate to traditions and practices of innovation not so much by preserving their memory as by sharing their decontextualized principles, perceived as values and foundations of identity. Central to navigating the dynamics of theatrical thought (in the sense of theater professionals' thought) are the notions of process and practice. The former has long implied, as its essential correlate, the rejection of the “product.” On the other hand, practice includes everything that is codified as technique and is set , at the beginning of each new compositional process, as a fixed point, a sedimented and functional tool, a basis on which to move or from which to start.