mafia related
-rich or wealthy
-they live in Staten Island or Corona, Queens
-they a lot of pasta
-Sopranos
-Gambling
==========================\
Tradition
Big family
Pasta
Mafia
Fashionable
Romantic
Loud
Poor
Talks with a lot
hand gestures
==============
A pasta dinner
at 2pm on Sunday’s
Roman Catholic
Large
Christmas-eve
Many children
Large crucifix
Dark hair
Loud talking
Hand gestures
==============
Big family
Eat only
Italian food
Talk loud
Family
oriented
Good cooks
Italian
accent
===============
Exaggerated
speech
Speaking with hands
Speaking with hands
The Godfather
Hirsute (Sorry!)
===============
First
generation- a close relative was from Italy
Guidos-
from Jersey, fake tan, spiked hair, lots of drinking
Food
is the center of the family and there is lots of pasta
Loud
Mafia
relations
================
Italians
are associated with the mafia
Italians
are associated with being loud
Italians
are associated with having large families
==================
Born in America, with Italian Parents
New Orleans migration
“Cartoon clumsiness” portrayal across media
Super Mario Video
Game Franchise
============
Big
families (family is very important)
Hard
working
Good
food (food is very important)
The
Sopranos
Loud
Many
traditions: tomato sauce, wine, and salami
Using
hand gestures while speaking
==================
Rich in
culture
Food
Knowledge of original Italian culture
Food
Knowledge of original Italian culture
Strong family
ties
Continually
trying to stand independent form existing stereotypes
Mental
assumptions of course go hand in hand with stereotypes
==========
Overly romantic
Loves spaghetti
Smooth criminals
Protective/Family
Bad drivers
===============Great pizza sauce
-Masculine
-Mafia
-Speak English with accent.
-Immigrant
=======================
White
Certain accents
Italian cuisine
Came in from Italy/not born in America
===========
A very large
family.
A fondness for
family meals.
Tough guys.
Loud and exuberant
socially.
Has cooking skills
The point of the "stereotypes" activities was to get those memes out in the open. We all know they are there, we all know that our tribe is targeted in one way or another, and, because OTHERS put us in a tribe whether we like it or not, those labels are applied to each one of us.
ReplyDeleteNow we can no longer pretend they aren't there.
About the lists re ItAm:
1) I am very offended about the "bad drivers" comment. All the rest, I can take in stride.
2) I am surprised that MAFIA isn't in everybody's list: were you a bit cautious, trying not to offend? Since I was the only one reading those lists, maybe you didn't want to seem prejudiced?
Remember that I asked to report what OTHER PEOPLE thing in general when they hear ItAm.
I didn't want to put you on the spot.
A change that I noticed over the last two-three years (that's how fast culture changes nowadays): Jersey Shore has almost disappeared from sight.
Now it's your term to COMMENT on what these lists reveal.
Every individual has their own opinion based on the different tribes that exist. In relation to the Italian American tribes many of these stereotypes are true and not offensive. Many Italian films are relating to the mafia and the characters are very loud and intimidating. I am Italian and do have a very large family, we do eat Sunday dinner around 2 or 3 pm, and I use my hands to talk constantly. These are not negative stereotypes, they really do explain who Italians are and how they act.
DeleteI agree with the comment about the Jersey Shore. When the show first aired a couple of years ago almost all Italians were compared to the members of the show. Italians were called guidos and guidettes and they were seen as having spiked hair and fake tans. It has been awhile since this show was on television and this has caused this stereotype to almost disappear. This is an example of how the media has a major affect on how we view different groups of people.
DeleteThis gave me a good laugh! As an Italian American the only think I took offense on was the bad drivers! I am surrounded by so many Americanized Italians that I feel like many things are starting to fade. I noticed that the Sunday dinners are becoming more scarce. Not many people have connections to the mafia and many people are mostly second and third generation Italians. I have to agree with almost everything else on these lists though. Again, it gave me a good laugh.
ReplyDeleteI believe also many of these steryotyoes brought up are starting to fade and it will be interesting to see how Italian americans are portrayed in even 10 years from now. Some of the post were very fun, coming from an Italian american background as well.
DeleteWhat I see when reading these list is that a lot of the stereotypes are similar. A lot of the stereotypes I read and hear from both non-Italian Americans and Italian Americans seem to be the same. What that tells me is that certain things must have some truth behind them but I think many of the truths have faded and we are left with stereotypes. For example now that many Italian Americans are third generation any ties to mafia have most likely vanished. I believe people turn towards organized crime when times are hard and the government cannot provide for them. In the early 1900’s this may have been the case for Italian Americans here illegally or legally but looked down upon by the government. A truth like moving your hands a lot when talking may still be something Italian Americans do more than other ethnicities solely because it is a character trait we pick up form our parents who have picked it up from theirs
ReplyDeleteI believe that stereotypes are built off of known facts. They are built off of things that particular groups have experienced. Certain stereotypes only fade when it simply isn't something to be remembered. For instance, Jersey Shore, besides the fact that the cast members were of Italian descent there isn't much of "Italians' that you want to take from the show. There is not one thing that set them apart from another race group, which is why that stereotype has disappeared. This also plays a role in the "typical" Italian lifestyle vanishing as well.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are based on the individuals opinions and historical facts. The show Jersey Shore is a great example especially the character Vinny. He had a large family, they were loud and they had Sunday dinner together every week.
DeleteNikki PalermoJune 15, 2016 at 1:34 PM
ReplyDeleteEvery individual has their own opinion based on the different tribes that exist. In relation to the Italian American tribes many of these stereotypes are true and not offensive. Many Italian films are relating to the mafia and the characters are very loud and intimidating. I am Italian and do have a very large family, we do eat Sunday dinner around 2 or 3 pm, and I use my hands to talk constantly. These are not negative stereotypes, they really do explain who Italians are and how they act.
I am an Italian American and for some of these I don’t know whether to laugh or be offended. A stereotype is defined as being a widely held idea of a particular group or thing. Some of these on this list do not fit this definition. The previous comments were also surprised by the bad driver stereotype. This is a stereotype for Italian Americans that I have never heard before. I’m not a bad driver and no one else in my family is either. Another stereotype on this list that surprised me was “poor.” Not only do I not agree with this, I also don't think that being poor can be a stereotype for any race. I laughed at the “Super Mario video game franchise” one. I have never heard of Italians being compared to Super Mario as being a stereotype. The character Mario is portrayed as an Italian with a curled mustache and an Italian accent however, I do not think this belongs on the list. Stereotypes are not always negative and this list does not contain many negative stereotypes. Most of them correctly describe the Italian American culture like big families, talking loudly with hand gestures and 2pm Sunday dinners.
ReplyDeleteMany of these stereotypes are known for long time. I think that most of the people know these stereotypes because they heard it from someone else, and not based on their personal experiences. These stereotypes are also based on what media portrays. This maybe the reason why most people listed similar stereotypes. Many Italian Americans might not relate to even one of these stereotypes but people still talk about these.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes have been around for a long time and will be around for even a longer time. I do not think people should take offense to stereotypes, only if people really make decisions based off this is when you should take offense. For example, if an African Americans walks in the store and the security guards starts following the person is when you should be offended. People are always going to have something to say whether it is good or bad. Stereotypes have been around since forever and will forever be around, people should find it humorous because they know it is not the truth.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I agree completely with your statement on finding the humor in the moment, as it is not the truth. Social constructs cause so much strife. Yet it is when we pay attention to them that they have power. If more people could be educated to see the difference between the belief and the fact, it would be a kinder possibly funnier world.
DeleteNot to promote the proliferation of stereotypes but I think many of the things on this list are positives. Morally speaking It seems most people think that Italians in general are happiest when together with their families, are known for being with their families, and are passionate. As far as legacies and stereotypes are concerned these seems a step in the right direction compared to the past. From the Italian side of my family I will agree that many of these concept are degrees of truth. I'll further the sentiment that I disagree with "Italians being bad drivers" and the number of mob connections. The main reason it wasn't a part of my list, was because I thought of my Italian family members first. Their impressions on me totally out shined thought on the mob or mafia.
ReplyDeleteBeing an Italian American, I have heard these stereotypes many times. Thankfully, a majority of Italian stereotypes are positive today as opposed to the stereotypes given to Italians in the early 1900s such as bums, alcoholics, animals etc. Today, when people hear Italian American they think of mostly positive stereotypes such as having big families and being passionate about food and wine.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the stereotypes listed here are positive. Compared to the old stereotypes that we learned about from all the cartoons and movies this list is not bad. Stereotypes are wrong in my opinion but there is always going to be people saying and assuming things about a persons race or nationality. The one stereotype that is seen a lot in this list is family orientation or something to do with family. I am happy this is something that comes to mind and not "criminal" or "hoodlum" like before.
ReplyDeleteIm going to be honest, I might have not put as many "stereotypes" but thats what started coming to mind. Except the super mario thing, I always think about super mario as an immediate idea. I am also surprised that not a lot of people put MAFIA. I did avoid it because I thought everyone would say it. Plenty of the comments on the list just proved that the stereotypes they place on tv is what is implemented in people's minds. That media does have a large impact on what groups think. I honestly completely forgot Jersey Shore. That used to be the standard for Italians in media for a while. Not really the standard but people would say thats how they acted. The lack of representation in media could really dilute the culture.
ReplyDeleteMedia definitely has a huge impact. My list wasn't as large as well but I put down the common ones. Based on what we hear and see in movies.
DeleteIt's said that stereotypes come with some form of truth behind it. I don't think so. I don't want to speak for anyone when I say we all heard these comments from someone/somewhere, so the idea was already set in place.
ReplyDeleteThis exercise was very difficult for me because I agree it is hard to stomach some of the things you hear pertaining to your tribe. Also, it's hard not to be offensive when the word "stereotype" implies just that. My list was the misconceptions people may have heard or seen, doesn't express my own personal associations with the cultures. Only the tribe can speak on what was experienced, a huge difference.
Jersey Shore is not portrayed by the media because it's no longer trending, and mafia movies have been done too many times that it's just accepted as the the norm.
Super Mario videogame franchise!! That's hilarious. But I could also see why. That game was pretty big when it came out, and they gave Mario and Co. thick mustaches and Italian accents and suddenly it's embedded in us how Italians speak. Video games do have a lot of impact. The Godfather is also an iconic figure in the Italian community, and for those who aren't part of the "tribe," the Godfather would often be the image to pop in someone's head when heard "Italian American."
ReplyDeleteI laughed hard at Super Mario Video Game Franchise. I never looked at it like that until now but I can just imagine his tone in my head "Super Mariiioo". Such a hefty list about ItAm. I'm not an ItAm but I've seen a lot of the references that were said through films (just like the ones professor assigned to us to watch). The most I see written is family and that is what is very important to them.
ReplyDelete