Examining the stereotypes of Italian Americans
The Daily Pennsylvanian
November 28, 2001
The media's Mafia coverage, the world of pasta, violence and "Capisce???" were the highlights of "Tony Soprano, the Media and Popular Culture" last Thursday at Logan Hall. The lecture covered stereotypes of Italian Americans, particularly the media's reinforcement of such stereotypes following the extreme popularity of shows like HBO's The Sopranos. Camille Paglia, a University of the Arts professor, and Richard Benedetto, an Italian American and a national correspondent for USA Today and the Gannett News Service, were the event's featured speakers.
"It's ridiculous to say that The Sopranos is 'the most accurate portrayal of Italian-American life,'" said Paglia, author of several works about American culture, including Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson. "It's absolutely insane."
The National Italian American Foundation sponsored the lecture in conjunction with the University's Center for Italian Studies and the Kelly Writers House.
Paglia said that before the advent of The Sopranos she was "cavalier about the portrayal of Italian Americans," but now she "despises the tendencies coming out of Los Angeles and New York to be arrogant about working-class families," particularly Italian Americans.
Benedetto, however, was not as outraged as Paglia.
"I don't take any great offense at some of the stereotypes," Benedetto said. "But I do take some offense, however."
He credits many of his characteristics to his Italian-American heritage.
"As an Italian-American reporter, I have this curiosity, this Italian-American curiosity," said Benedetto. "I understand that all systems have faults, too, but I have this optimism, this Italian-American optimism that we can make it better."
According to the national census, there are over 25 million Italian Americans. However, only two ten-thousandths of 1 percent of Italian Americans are connected with the Mafia. And only 4.5 percent of those on the FBI's Most Wanted list are Mafia-related Italian Americans.
Close to 200 people, including several local politicians, NIAF officials and students, were on hand for the event.
Sam Rotenberg, a College senior and student in Penn's Italian program, said the lecture was thought-provoking.
"It raised some very interesting points about stereotypes in America. We all have a dash in our name, even Native Americans, no one is purely American."
Nicole Green, College sophomore and also an Italian student, said that while she enjoyed the lecture, she felt that Paglia's attitude detracted from the message.
Paglia "seemed to be angry and prejudiced," Green said. "I liked the other speakers, but her attitude and confrontational style really turned me off and made it hard for me to listen to her."