LOCAL IDENTITY TODAY AND GLOBALIZATION  by François Burkhardt Local identity and globalization is the title of the seminary promoted by F. Burkhardt at the ISIA of Florence, a reflection on the sense and the topicality of the identity in the era of globalization, a project about Tuscan territory and its productive levels. Here is a report of some aspects of the seminary introduction. The interest for the local dimension has eversince found its roots in the reaction to a centralist structure, and in the refusal of uncontrolled expansion of the productive forces. The center disseminates and imposes to the periphery the need of change. The modernization, mostly guided by social and economic models, the globalization remove and erase the local dimension. On the other hand, the requirement of closeness and the perception of things and ideas can be only satisfied by the local dimension. In order not to loose his sense of direction man needs a support, a sense of belonging and a strong link with his own roots. The twentieth century is rich of examples of cultures that search local or often regional identity (for example at the cases of Zakopane in Polonia, Nancy in France and so on). This tendency follows the history of modernity and its climax often matches with occupations. This has strongly characterized, after several totalitarian periods, the reconstruction of identity with democratic political systems that contributed regenerate an interesting aspect of local identity between the population: the recall to history, let's consider the examples of neo-baroque and of neo-liberty. This topic has led to an discussion on the origins of architecture that involves design, at its first steps as independent discipline, and also leads us to the topic of the popular art with its dialects and its identities in the elité culture. From this subject will descend the re-elaboration about the completed shape dogma, that underlines the strength of what is "spontaneous", native, the testimony of freedom and the chance to articulate variations: characteristic of the local culture and its identity that opens to a new contemporary concept of cultural differentiation. Because cultural development depends on enabling the civil society to operate in the valorization of different identities ,in respect of that dialogue and confrontation between tradition and present, "spontaneous" and "rational" that must be condition for every transformation. Since the beginning of the 60's, the critic to the modernity, focused on its overcoming, and the newborn discussion about the post-modern gives space again to the topic of local cultures. The relationship between design and local identity is difficult, especially for the design of "modern", based on the ideology of international style. Being involved in the industrial production system, which requires an adaptation to methods, processes of production and market connected to the globalization, design very rarely proposes specific products for a local culture. Not even the planning answer to precise local questions. The niches of market in these cases involve mostly handicraft products realized for regional commercial areas, basically open to traditional products. Often a conservative way of thinking prevents an opening to contemporary languages, an interest to the technological innovation and extra-regional areas. About this point the seminary "local identity today " will have to suggest some openings, to supply proposals and examples that allow the passage from the tradition the contemporary time. The demanded analyses have to be processed in this way. The theoretical base that we will propose leans to the theses of the philosopher and sociologist Paul Ricoeur, later adapted to the theory of architecture of Kenneth Frampton. It stresses the necessity of dialectic between native cultures and universal systems that define civilization hints. This relationship demands the placing of local problems and aspects regarding those of the globalization of technological systems and market but also of general thoughts that go from the social one to the cultural one. Referring to the theses of Ricoeur according to which "in order to be alive a culture must keep its tradition in continuous evolution". Especially in the case of the local cultures in Tuscany, we have to on the need of "a renew" of tradition, today practically absent and that however has not concerned the leading fields of the design. The seminary will have to consider this deficiency and propose current criteria that could give the tradition a perspective and not only a retrospective, according to the contemporary conditions of producing and the living, and also finalized to markets outside Tuscany. F. Burkhardt critic, architecture and design historian ,responsible of the Center of Documentation G. Pompidour in Paris, Director of the Domus review, adviser for many design plans, author of many essays of architecture and design, currently envolved in various design plans and Didactics in Italy and abroad.

Edited by: Angelo Minisci I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. in cooperation with: Elena Granchi Sonia Morini TOP