Ordinary encounters: living space and social rhythms among the American Gitanos of Mexico City

Abstract

ABSTRACT For the Gitanos of Mexico City, the importance of dynamic community connections and doing things together – aspects of the intensive encounters associated with an active social life – give rise to a fluid social and cultural identity. Space is an inherent element of the latter; they are interdependent and constructed simultaneously. As such, anot locked up at homen intimate relationship can be established between urban space and the Gitanos who inhabit it. This article proposes that the activities carried out in these spaces are of a cultural nature: they form part of the space for sociability and cultural education, which are particularly important to the Gitanos. Social rhythms are highly significant as they demonstrate how locations impact subjects and the type of activities they carry out in different spaces. I have attempted to understand these rhythms by measuring the frequency of Gitano meetings in various urban environments.