Oltre il Rurale

Abstract

Since the word ‘rural’ embraces a widespread of meanings, it is useful to map its boundaries,
that is, to consider the term in the light of those questions that require further clarifications for the comprehension of it. This general undertaking will be tackled by assuming the territorial section between the southern shore of Lake Garda and the river Po as a case study. The aim is to go beyond a phenomenological narrative supporting the opposition or, on the contrary, the assimilation between urban and rural territories. Rather, we propose a shift in the description of rural space that instates the territorial project at the centre, delving on a closer reading of the conflicts generated by recent transformations. Since territories, characterised by a strong presence of primary production, are today at the centre of relevant changes and rearrangements in space and society, the present paper wants to answer two questions: can we unhinge the generic galaxy of the ‘rural’ through more careful observation of the phenomena? Is it possible to use the project to explore territories that are still partly unknown while being so familiar?