Peripheralization and Other Roman Stories

This article problematizes the rhythm of Rome that emerges as a symphony from the multicultural agenda of the new city urban grand plan. Officially the plan aims at giving voice to different sounds of the immigrant communities living in the city; in reality, I sustain, it renders their rhythm unintelligible, their essence never a possibility. After framing the ideas behind the new grand plan for Rome, I engage in a contrapuntal reading of two documentaries L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio(Ferrente, 2009) –The Vittorio Square Orchestra, and Come un Uomo sulla Terra(Segre & Yimer, 2008) - Like a Man on Earth. By comparing the two on the light of roman urban policies and European migration control practices, I establish how the former despacializes other ideas of communities and reinforces the homogenization of immigrants’ unique experiences of the urban.