Stereotypes, Italian-Americans, and The Media

 

I was born and raised in a stereotypical society. I’m biracial and I have cream colored skin with long curly dark brown hair. My outside features alone cause me to be categorized as something I am not. I’m constantly being referred to as a Hispanic, a Caucasian, or an African American. People stereotype me as something that I’m not and it has grown quite annoying and offensive over the years. But the crowd in my community that stereotypes me is very small compared to a culture of people being categorized based off of shows and movies. For example, the Italian Americans have been notoriously depicted over the years as mobsters, thieves, and murderers through media and film. There are several shows and movies that portray Italian Americans in a violent way. Furthermore, Italian-Americans are always stereotyped as being associated with the mafia. It wasn’t until the movies and television shows mentioned that people starting viewing Italians as "mobsters". For example, the movie Goodfellas follows the life of Henry Hill who grows up and becomes a gangster turned snitch. Another example of the media portraying Italians as mobsters was the HBO show The Sopranos. Reality shows such as the Mob Wives enhance the depiction of Italians and their families as mobsters. All of the media portrayals of Italians Americans almost always receives backlash from the Italian Community and causes some type of controversy. This image placed upon Italian Americans has plagued them for years.

 

 

         

 

In more recent years, groups such as the American Italian Defense Associate and the National Italian American Foundation have protested the depiction of Italians in the HBO television series The Sopranos.

 

The series revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the problems he encounters when he tries to balance his home life and the criminal organization he is the leader of. Additionally, Bryan Smith of the Chicago Sun Times stated that the popular HBO show about mobsters is a “dime store art” and built around stereotypes and clichés. This show depicts the Italians American culture as having no regards to human life, respect for authority, and thieves. Furthermore, I have personally watched this show, and it does depict Italians as such. However, the producers of The Soprano show did have a lawsuit against filed against them by an Italian-American lawyers group in Chicago called the American Italian Defense Association. As stated by ABC News, the lawsuit was filed under obscure individual dignity. This simply meant that the show made every Italian American look like Mobsters to people who did not know or understand the Italian culture. The lawsuit was only seeking a declaratory judgment. They did not ask for damages or for the show to be taken off the air (ABC News, 2001). In spite of all the evidence that was presented to the judge, the case was dismissed by a judge in Chicago.

 

 

 

 

 

       

“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. To me, being a gangster was better than being President of the United States”.  This is a quote is from Henry Hill played by Ray Liotta in the movie Goodfellas. Goodfellas is a movie about the business and a culture of organized crime in 1970’s New York. Furthermore, this is another perfect example of the negative portrayal of Italian Americans. For example, all the actors and actresses playing Italians in this movie have something negative effect to their character such as one may be a thief, a murderer, or a prostitute.  However, GoodFellas is ultimately a very well-produced film. The movie presents a more sensible and more hands-on take through the eyes of someone who is not yet influential or important within the criminal organization, rather than through the eyes of the superior. Most Italians Americans can agree that movie was well put together but the message behind it was offensive.

           

The reality show Mob Wives is based on the wives and daughters of former members of the Italian Mob. This is yet another form of media that exploits Italian-Americans and provides a distorted view of their culture. According to Stated Island Advance, James Molinaro, son of Italian Immigrants and Borough President of Staten Island said that the show doesn’t put Staten Island in a good light, whether you’re Italian or not. For instance, all the women on the show constantly fight and make reference to their mobster association. He also mentioned that he doesn’t doubt that there are real mob characters in Staten Island however it should not be glorified through the media. In addition, in that same article, Dr. Mary Rose Barranco Morris, chair of the Staten Island Network of National Organization of Italian American Women said that she is personally offended by the show. Furthermore, the women on the show are not good role models for their community. For example, the women on the show are always fighting and arguing. In addition to the fighting, it generally takes places in public forums. Therefore, Italians Americans do not want their daughters aspiring to become a ‘Mob Wife’. This reality show amplifies the viewer’s perception of the negative portrayal of not only Italian Americans but the communities they live in.

           

In my overall opinion, I believe that the media contributes heavily to the stereotyping of Italian Americans. Their race and culture have been distorted and made out to be something it is not. Every race has some type of criminal activity but it is not the media’s job to glorify or exploit it. The Italian American stereotypes are very much predictable in the media in this day and age due to the media mainstream being flooded with Italian movies and shows based on the mob. Negative depiction typically causes conflict and a person who is ignorant to a particular culture may judge that culture based on what the media presents. For example, the general incorrect facts of the Italian culture is that they’re overly interested in food,  they’re hot tempered and violent, they’re associated with the mob, and they’re loud and obnoxious. However, the Italians are actually very deeply in touch with their culture in Italy. Some positive examples are that they are excellent cooks, their family is very important to them, and they are very inspired by the arts. Yet it’s difficult for Americans to not believe the false attributes that is being described in the movies and reality television shows. Sadly, it appears as if the negative portrayals are not going to stop any time soon with the media.