Tuesday, May 13, 2014
"Mafia" Stereotypes in Our Minds and in the World
In class today, we discussed different stereotypes we each associated with "the Mafia." Some of you mentioned cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, men with black suits, black cars, and Tommy Guns and specific figures in organized crime. Others mentioned family, violence, and corruption. And many of you cited a variety of sources for these stereotypes -- from classic films to video games and sitcom parodies. Given our discussions today and your own experiences, deliver a firmer explanation of just what the "stereotype" of the "mafia"is in our culture. To be sure, we can acknowledge that there are multiple explanations of social "stereotypes" of the "mafia," but we're scholars of literature and culture now and scholars must make decisions in their ultimate claims. In no fewer than 10 thoughtful sentences offer your working scholarly account of what the stereotype of the Mafia is in America. What is it and, just as importantly, why is that the case? (It likely makes sense to use some of the images, TV, and Film examples you have identified as supporting evidence in your response.)
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American media presents "the mafia" as remarkably homogenous: foreign, violent, criminal, and deceptive. Yet the stereotypical mobster usually has a softer side, or at least unyielding pride in his family name. In an episode of "Modern Family," Phil Dunphy tries to solve all his and his children's problems by acting kindly. This strategy doesn't work, so he employs Luke to settle their problems in a more cruel manner. Luke places the head of a stuffed horse in the bed of one of Luke's bullying classmates, replicating the famous scene in "The Godfather." Phil, in true mobster form, takes care of problems in the most efficient and sly way possible, ignoring the questionable morality of traumatizing a young boy and several other consequences of his 'solutions.' Though "Modern Family" mocks the mafia, it illustrates some of the more common ideas surrounding the legendary American mafia: they keep things in order, they disregard certain moral principles, and it's a family business.
ReplyDeleteI think we tend to forget that the mafia is alive and well today. The images of the mafia we often see in television and movies are either outdated (prohibition-esque) or a character in a ridiculous Hollywood storyline. A black suit, gun, cigarette, and cannoli seem more like a Halloween costume than something that you could actually see walking down a street. This goes to show what I find the most defining quality of the mafia: stealth. The mafia never gets caught for whatever crimes they commit; they are above the law. In movies like "The Heat," the leader of the mob surprises everybody because he's part of a government agency (and not the albino whom they suspected). This stealth and sense of infallibility in regard to the law is common to all representations of mobsters from all decades and cities.
Stereotypically, America views the mafia as a bunch of white men with short-ish or heavily gelled hair, black suits, briefcases, cars and the accent from the area they live. People imagine them to be extremely greedy and think they deserve and will get what they want. For example, Al Capone was considered to be the “head” of the Chicago mafia. I am quite sure that Al got a large share of the funds “collected” through payment by stores and restaurants. Yet he still evaded taxes and attempted to hoard more money. Also I believe violence and bloodshed is a very large part of the mafia stereotype. You can hardly even discuss the mafia without some sort of violence eventually popping up into the conversation. I’m sure that the mafia didn’t go around murdering everybody they didn’t like, but movies featuring the mafia or organized crime say otherwise. Most organized crime videos involve the villains committing lots of violence. Many of the movies we will be watching in the course involve lots of bloodshed, which reinforces the bloody reputation of the mafia. I believe that the real world mafia is much different than the stereotype. Sure, the stereotypes take root in non-fictional events, but these actions of the mafia have been way overblown. I am sure for some of the mafia, being part of the mafia was just an occupation; a way of life.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a "mafia" and the stereotypes surrounding the concept have been more, or less the same for many years. Movies such as "The Godfather" and many other mediums such as the "Mafia II: The Video game." The typical image of a mafia includes a plethora of Italian immigrants (usually divided into different families) who are deeply involved in criminal activity. These activities usually range anywhere from drugs to bribery. Other things associated with the mafia includes guns, suits, cars, and an unthinkable amount of violence and competition. But why is this so? I imagine much of the stereotypes associated with mafia come from justifiable reasons. During the early and mid 1900's, America received an influx of European immigrants. These immigrants were not treated very well, and in retaliation, they began to run things for themselves, all in hopes of achieving what we know as the "American Dream." Movies, T.V., and other media have created a very convoluted view of how the mafia is perceived. The image and stereotypes presented does cause a problem. Many believe that mafia, or better yet organized crime, is a thing of the past. This is not the case whatsoever. As times have changed, so have the functions and appearance of organized crime. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean that a mafia does not exist. As time goes on, I wouldn't be surprised to find that the perception and stereotypes of the mafia and the effect that they have in society will change dramatically to fit the times they operate in.
ReplyDelete"The Mafia", as depicted by stereotypes, are a close knit group of men, usually from Italy or Italian decent, who work as a group for their benefit, often times using violence and intimidation to achieve their goals. When many people think of the Mafia they think of men with their hair slicked back, black suits and tommy guns making people offers they can’t refuse. These stereotypes come from the depiction of the Mafia through movies, TV, and even video games. Since most people don’t frequently run into the Mob, our ideas of what the Mafia is like come almost entirely from these sources. In many ways we have a romanticized image of the Mafia to the point where people think about fictional characters before they think of the actual Mob, most of whom do not resemble Don Corleone or Fat Tony from the Simpsons. With the image we’ve been presented it’s easy to forget that the Mafia is very real and influential. Due to the publicity, the Mafia is more “cool” in our society; the mystery surrounding them is fascinating not horrifying, and everyone loves a good Mafia movie. In the end, most of what I think of as ‘the Mafia’ stems from Hollywood, not the actual Mob.
ReplyDeleteIn our culture, I believe the “mafia” is portrayed as a group of people who are Italian and have specific marks/symbols that emulate their own strength. This gang dresses classy, has very dark features, looks buff, suave and has slick dark hair. Their personality is confident, vicious and “charming.” I believe these depictions are highly influenced by movies, TV shows and advertisements. To me, this seems to be the case because many young people who are introduced to things from movies, TV shows and advertisements are teased into believing these false stereotypes as reality. However, if something seems harmful or dangerous (like the “mafia”) people tend to keep in mind all these different notions and stereotypes about them so they can protect themselves. This defense mechanism also ushers people to become scared and retaliate in such a way that leaves them feeling threatened because they don’t have a true understanding or awareness of where these feelings, ideas or assumptions have come from. I haven’t watched too many movies about the “mafia,” however, looking into more details and pictures about the movie The Godfather, their image strongly mirrors what today’s world perceives of the mob.
ReplyDeleteMuch of our understanding of the mafia stems from stereotypes portrayed through television, movies, books, and other forms of media. These stereotypes have painted an image of the mafia that many of us blindly accept due to our lack of first-hand experience with the group. The physical representation of the typical "mafia man"--not woman, as women are not displayed as prominent figures in the mafia-- remains fairly consistent throughout movies and television shows. The media portrays men in the mafia as Italian men with slicked back hair and classy attire. These men typically drive fancy, higher-end automobiles and keep a tommy gun or two under their pillows. The media also displays the mental characteristics of the men involved in the mafia. They are displayed as loyal and trustworthy members of a family who work as grunts for a powerful "boss." The men follow strict orders, regardless of the motive or severity of the task. These tasks involve corrupt or illegal activities aimed toward benefiting the family as a whole. These tasks range from making collections from local intimidated businesses, breaking the thumbs of those who refuse to pay off debts, or killing individuals that conflict with the aims of the family. This is the plot of many mafia-themed shows and video games: a scenario in which a man holding a prominent position in a mafia family is asked to carry out a task that conflicts with his ideas and beliefs. This idea is portrayed in the episode "Big Gino" of the popular cartoon "Hey Arnold." The 11-minute episode highlights the stereotypes of shady business, intimidation, and unquestionable loyalty associated with the mafia.
ReplyDeleteIf you care to watch the episode "Big Gino," I have provided a link below.
http://www.funniermoments.com/watch.php?vid=b96e00070
When the word "Mafia" comes to mind, I think of the unique Italian-American culture of the 40s and 50s: an oxymoronic blend of fierce family loyalty and disturbingly corrupt violence. I find it interesting that two polar concepts and practices can exist in one group (still prevalent, might I add). Perhaps this unbelievable moral paradox existing in mobsters and their families leads to the stereotype we know (and love) today: fat, tall, tan men in suits with guns, killing to gain power and money and looking scary, yet suave while doing it. Stereotypical members of the Mafia have thick and comical accents, eat too much, exhibit sexist beliefs, kill without sensitivity, and seem downright crazy for such radical organized crime. I'll propose that American culture and media has heavily parodied the Mafia in order to make light of its contradiction, to understand its motives, and to establish power over what the greater American population does not understand. As we discussed in class, even funny television shows like Modern Family or Hey Arnold (credit to Ellery and Brandon) portray this stereotypical image of mobsters to desensitize the public to such gruesome, disturbing, and realistic images of the Mafia in movies like Goodfellas. Seeing parodies of people who could kill, corrupt government, or inflict fear make the public less worried about these burly Italian-American men in suits. in addition to parodies in order to water down the reality of mob life and culture, movies and other creative devices like The Godfather (as brilliant as it is) romanticize the Mafia. Happy endings seem possible, money seems endless, and problems seem to have an end in The Godfather despite more realistic scenes of death and corruption. The goal of these Mafia fallacies is to evaporate how fearsome of an organization the Mafia truly is. The stereotypes have some claim to facts, but they hide the gruesome truth of what really goes on.
ReplyDeleteThe "Mafia" is a group of, usually Italian, men who work together to get whatever they want no matter what they have to do to get it. Most of the time, the way these men go about getting their way is either by killing or severely injuring somebody. The stereotypical mobster is a big, Italian looking man with slicked back hair, a black suit and a gun. This image that people have of the "Mafia" comes from classic movies like The Godfather or even from more recent parody movies such as The Family. Running into the mob is not an every day occurrence so many people have only the movies to experience these "Mafia Men." However, the only down side to having so many movies that feature the “Mafia” is that we, as a society, tend to forget that these guys still exist and that organized crime still takes place in our world. Just like all stereotypes, the depiction of the “Mafia” in films is probably a little over the top. I have experienced the mob in my family because my great grandpa used to own a lot of hotels in Miami where there was a big mob culture, but he never told any stories like the ones in the movies. All of his stories were more possible to happen in every day life. He described these men as “the most intimidating people he has ever seen,” and he was a professional boxer. He used to tell me that he had to always face the door at restaurants so that he could see who was coming in incase he had to leave.
ReplyDeleteThe mafia is a very common image in our culture, and most of these images are very similar. When I think of "Mafia" I always associate with Italians. These Italians would have black hair, black suits, and maybe a black fedora. They drive black cars, deliver one liners and pull drive by shootings. The mafia would be a rich organization, and people come to them to ask for someone to get dropped off a dock with their feet in cement or shot. These mafia goons would be lorded over by a smaller, fatter, older Italian man who speaks softly and looks scary. Their wives have big, puffy hair and don't do much for the whole crime part of things. All of these images are very common stereotypes of the mafia for me. I got most of them from pop culture references to movies like The Godfather throughout my life. I have also played a video game all about the mafia (called, quite creatively, Mafia II) and it fueled my view of the typical mafia a lot, reinforcing the Italian Immigrant With A Fast Car stereotype.
ReplyDeleteMost people have not had direct interactions with the mafia, so they need to get their information from film, literature, and most recently, video games. I never had any run ins with the mafia, so the beginnings of my mafia information came from the movie "The untouchables". In the untouchables Al Capone and his mob gang all had slicked back black hair, nice suits, and mean attitudes. This was the first image I ever saw of the Mob, and that image has stuck with me throughout my life. "Batter up" is a scene in the "Untouchables" that solidifies this image. Al Capone, who is played by Robert De Niro, is circling around a huge white table while talking about baseball. The conversation seems easy enough, "baseball, what could be wrong with that"? It becomes clear that Capone is using a story about teamwork as a metaphor for a failing member of his team. Suddenly, without hesitation, Capone takes a bat and bashes in the head of a team member. During the story everyone was laughing, but after the death everyone was silent. I think this scene backs up what I had believed about the mob. They are very family oriented, but at the end of the day the mob is a cutthroat environment that means business.
ReplyDeleteThe images of mafia that we see in television, films, and other media outlets are all the same: flashy suits, seemingly bottomless wallets, deep family connections, and connections in high places. One famous scene from Scorsese's Goodfellas is when Henry is trying to impress Karen by taking her out. They skip the entire line outside of a club and once inside, the waiters there set up a table for the two in front of the already established front-row. One of the most interesting things about these mafia movies is the glitz and glamour that comes alongside ruthlessness and murder.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons why the stereotypes of money and glamour are so heavily enforced may be because of a different reason. Underneath all of the killing in the mafia stories is a story of making it big: a storyline that has been population in our culture forever. In The Godfather II, we see Vito Corleone transform from a helpless, mute boy in a foreign country to one of the most powerful men in New York. The slicked back hair and embarrassingly flashy suits are so heavily used because they symbolize the component of the mafia that appeal the most to us: the power. The exciting parts of the movies that keep audiences coming back for more include scenes where the Godfather, for example, displays his undisputed power (by making an offer that can't be refused) or when the man in charge, Henry Hill, carelessly hands his wife a roll of thousands of dollars of cash for shopping. All of this glamour used in mafia films plays to the want that all humans have. These stereotypes used in all of these films are there because it shows the lifestyles of the rich and famous, something that humans have always been interested in.
The term mafia is always associated with violence, and it can be used synonymously with the term gang. The same way in which people think of gangs and gang wars today is how many people think of the mafia. However, everybody in a gang is a bad person, while people in mafias are sometimes just joining the family business. In movies like the Godfather, Vito Corleone’s sons have no choice but to join the family business–which includes all the murder and crimes necessary to keep the mafia functioning. When someone thinks of an Italian-American, they think of pasta and the mob. And when they think of the mob it is always a negative stereotype–which can be attributed to the depiction of the Mafia in films, where every Italian-American born into the family joins the mafia, not just the criminals.
ReplyDeleteThe ruthless, cold-blooded, and sinister nature of the Mafia in movies and TV shows causes the general consensus of what the mafia is. Of course I really don’t know what actually goes on in the mafia, but I assume that the extent of the character of the mafia is considerably exaggerated in the movies. And many people aren’t too educated on the operations of the mafia, so what is depicted in the movies is what people believe. Are some of the killings by the mafia in real life as nonchalant as those in the movies? One must assume so because that is the only material there is to work with in this day in age. That leads to the very negative stereotypes of the mafia, which may very well in real life be more concerned with pasta than executing killings. The operations of the mafia in movies and TV shows could be just stories or could be realistic–but who knows?
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ReplyDeleteMost of people's perceptions of the mafia today are a result of movies (such as The Godfather), books, and television. As far as I know, some attributes of your generic "Mafia" would be huge Italian men who have slicked back hair with Tommy Guns in violin cases (don't know why I just quoted the Glass Menagerie). They have seemingly bottomless wallets. And they have absolutely enormous amounts of influence in American metropolitan cities.They always have a bunch of henchmen around them. There is absolutely no way that anyone can trust anyone when connected with the Mafia.I feel that the reason this is so is because people want to alleviate the pain of such a threat that actually existed and still exists today. They make all sorts of run-ins with the Mafia or allusions to them full of humor and illegitimacy. They make the Mafia seem like something that some random person conjured up in their head one day, something that could never possibly be. In regards to sources that I have about where I obtained such an image of the Mafia:
ReplyDeleteA bunch of Indian movies.
Hannah Montana S01E20: Debt It Be, where Jackson dons the appearance of Marlon Brando in The Godfather. In the episode, he forces Miley to call him Godbrother.
Cover of the Godfather
Some random poster of Scarface.