Abstract Spatially and temporal marginal characters in a narrative may not be marginal in terms of meaning and affect. While a marginal character may be incidental, providing an interlude or local colour, he or she may also either, in their marginality deliberately and unintendedly indicate the social parameters of the world of the narrative, or may even constitute a concern that is both central and inadmissible to it. These dynamics of marginality will be discussed through the role of black and gay characters in La dolce vita (Italy 1960 Federico Fellini). Biographical Note Richard Dyer has an MA from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Birmingham. He was Professor of Film Studies at the University of Warwick and King’s College London and Professorial Fellow at St Andrews. He has lectured very widely in Europe, North America and Australia, been honoured by the Universities of Turku, Dublin and Yale, the Society for Cinema and Media Stu...