Artistic Emergencies and Processes of Politicization of Culture in Relation to Street Theater Practice in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Abstract

This article examines the emergence of the De la Calle, Unión de Grupos de Teatro Callejero (From the Street, Association of Street Theater Groups) association, framing it within the complex dynamics of political organization surrounding artistic practices that characterize the cultural sector of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, with a special focus on the scenic language of street theater. The study is part of a broader research project in the field of anthropological sciences, which is why ethnographic fieldwork is primarily used as the main methodology. Insights from theater studies and performance studies also contribute to the research. The analysis is situated within the field of cultural policies, which recognizes street theater actors and actresses as more than just beneficiaries but as makers and subjects endowed with diligence and capacity for collective organization. This case is approached as a process of politicization of culture, influenced by previous experiences in the recent past and the sociopolitical and cultural context in which these processes took place. These experiences are considered paradigmatic for exploring the intersection of scenic languages and political-territorial struggles, as well as account for the processes through which art and culture contribute to the formation of collective subjects who actively seek a role in public agendas.