Monday, March 06, 2006
A Summary of “LUIGI, TONY, AND THE FAMILY”
This article, “LUIGI, TONY, AND THE FAMILY,” deals with how Italian-Americans have been portrayed in films and media. Ethnic characters and ethnic references have become common fare in television and Hollywood films. Especially Italian-Americans have become one of favorite ethnic groups.
In the media, Italian-Americans have been represented according to various stereotypes but most of them are nonintellectual and negative images. Among them, Mafia is Italian-Americans’ best stereotypes. In the 1930s, with television series like “The Untouchables” and movies like “The Godfather,” Italians was portrayed to gangsters. These two strong images led to the prototypes. As a matter of fact, not all Italians are gangsters and not all gangsters are Italians so it is kind of unfair description of them.
Media have strong tendency not to change but to keep the ethnical group’s stereotypes as they needs even some group’s stereotypes are far from the reality. For example in the last several decades many Italians have moved into the professional occupations. However, in 1990 alone five movies still described Italian-Americans as gangsters or similar role of guys. Because of media’s unilateral power, Italian-Americans’ stereotype is still same. Even though, many Italian-Americans want to escape from their negative images in the media.
In the media, Italian-Americans have been represented according to various stereotypes but most of them are nonintellectual and negative images. Among them, Mafia is Italian-Americans’ best stereotypes. In the 1930s, with television series like “The Untouchables” and movies like “The Godfather,” Italians was portrayed to gangsters. These two strong images led to the prototypes. As a matter of fact, not all Italians are gangsters and not all gangsters are Italians so it is kind of unfair description of them.
Media have strong tendency not to change but to keep the ethnical group’s stereotypes as they needs even some group’s stereotypes are far from the reality. For example in the last several decades many Italians have moved into the professional occupations. However, in 1990 alone five movies still described Italian-Americans as gangsters or similar role of guys. Because of media’s unilateral power, Italian-Americans’ stereotype is still same. Even though, many Italian-Americans want to escape from their negative images in the media.
