Stereotypes of the Italian-American Male on Television

1. Jason Rix 10-18-11 COM 3100WI Stereotypes of the Italian-American Male on Television

2. Introduction • Television and the communication of Stereotypes • Where it was once the norm for messages to be communicated via one-on-one interaction between two people, modern technology – television in particular –changed the manner in which people receive their messages (Gerbner, 1998). • There is no middle ground with either positive or negative stereotypes – they are absolute. • Because of this stereotypes are created for an entire sub-culture rather than being seen as personality traits unique to the individual (Cavallero, 2004; Lee et al., 2009). • Literature Review • Focus on The Sopranos • Elaborate on Italian-American stereotypes generated through film and television. • Examine how Semiotics and Cultivation Theory play a role

3. Literature Review • Mafioso • For years mass media has been negatively targeted for its depiction of Italian-American males, especially their portrayal in the role of Mafioso (Cavallero, 2004). • Cavallero (2004) states that to an extent Italian-American groups bring attention to the stereotypes by focusing more on the portrayal of the Italian-American gangster than that of the many diverse portrayals of Italian characters. • It can be said that while the image of the mobster can often identify with traditional American heroes, it is the mobster who exploits all the positive values the traditional American hero fights to preserve (Defino, 2004). • The “Exception” • While many Italian-Americans have assimilated into American culture over the years, the stereotypes of Mafioso still exist (Cavallero, 2004; Tricarico, 1989). . • Audiences witness Soprano himself as an antihero seeking absolute and sustained power (Defino, 2004), willing to partake in despicable acts that enable him to achieve his success (Cavallero, 2004). • In recent years, mass media and members of the middle class developed a new view of the role of the Italian-American within our society, however, when examining representations of Italian-Americans as heroes in our culture they are seen as “exceptions” (Cavallero, 2004; Gorham, 1999).

4. Literature Review • The Audience • The audience must seek out the truth (Lee et al., 2009). • When semiotics on television create meaning it opens up the medium to limitless interpretations, all created by the social makeup and culture of the audience (Fiske, 1985). • Semiotics creates social meaning within a culture, and because television is such a large part of our social culture the semiotics used in this medium creates meaning (Fiske, 1985). • Gorham (1999) argues that stereotypes are created through social interaction, while a study by Lee et al. (2009) concurs with the teachings of Gerbner (1998) that media exposure and stereotypes tend to go hand-in-hand, further reinforcing the ideas set forth by in the cultivation theory. • H: Italian-American males are negatively stereotyped to the viewing audience on cable television, often being portrayed as violent, unfaithful, and power-hungry.

5. Tying it all together

6. Methodology • Content analysis using five episodes of The Sopranos. • Selected using a lottery style drawing where episodes were numbered 1-86. • I Dream of Jeannie Cusamono • The Knight in White Satin Armor • University • The Weight • The Second Coming

7. Methodology • Coded using stereotypical themes present throughout the research process. • Analyzed both Negative and Positive Stereotypes. • The appearance of each theme would count as an occurrence. • Mixture of manifest and latent content • Manifest content included violent elements, adulterous affairs, religious acts, and family interaction. • Symbols of power and kind acts analyzed using latent content. • Second researcher brought in for an unbiased interpretation of latent content.

8. Results • 127 negative stereotypes vs. 55 positive stereotypes • Violence appeared twice as much as any of the positive stereotypes. • Violent elements appeared 46% of the time, while the highest percentage of positive stereotypes only appeared 15% of the time.

9. Discussion • Using quantitative data in a content analysis, this study indicates that the Italian-American male is often portrayed in a negative light. • Cultivation Theory teaches that continued exposure to stereotypes on television allows for an audience to form a false identity for the culture being depicted (Gerbner, 1998; Lee et al., 2009). • This study was limited by a sample size of five episodes. Future research should conduct a content analysis of the entire series, where both the stereotypical portrayal of both Italian-American men and women examined. • While the study calculated the number of times a theme occurred, it failed to take into consideration the impact each theme had within the context of the episode.

10. References Cavallero, J. J. (2004). Gangsters, fessos, tricksters, and Sopranos. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 32(2), 50-63. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Chase, D. (Writer), & Patterson, J. (Director). (1999). I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano [Television Series Episode]. In D. Kaplow and O. Mazen (Producers). The Sopranos. New York: Silvercup Studios. Chase, D., Green, R., & Burgess, M. (Writers), & Coulter, A (Director). (2000). The Knight in White Satin Armor [Television Series Episode]. In D. Kaplow and O. Mazen (Producers). The Sopranos. New York: Silvercup Studios. Chase, D., Winter, T., Stabile, S., Kessler, T.A., Green, R., & Burgess, M. (Writers), & Coulter, A. (Director). (2001). University [Television Series Episode]. In D. Kaplow and O. Mazen (Producers). The Sopranos. New York: Silvercup Studios. Chase, D. & Winter, T. (Writers), & Bender, J. (Director). (2002). The Weight[Television Series Episode]. In D. Kaplow and O. Mazen (Producers). The Sopranos. New York: Silvercup Studios. Chase, D. & Winter, T. (Writers), & Van Patten, T.(Director). (2007). The Second Coming [Television Series Episode]. In D. Kaplow and O. Mazen (Producers). The Sopranos. New York: Silvercup Studios.

11. References Defino, D. (2004). The prince of North Jersey. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 32(2), 83-89. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Fiske, J. (1985). The semiotics of television. Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 2(2), 176-183. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Gerbner, G. (1998). Cultivation analysis: An overview. Mass Communication & Society, 1(3/4), 175. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Gorham, B. W. (1999). Stereotypes in the Media: So What?. Howard Journal of Communications, 10(4), 229- 247. doi:10.1080/106461799246735 Lee, M. J., Bichard, S. L., Irey, M. S., Walt, H. M., & Carlson, A. J. (2009). Television viewing and ethnic stereotypes: Do college students form stereotypical perceptions of ethnic groups as a result of heavy television consumption?. Howard Journal of Communications, 20(1), 95-110. doi:10.1080/10646170802665281 Tricarico, D. (1989). In a new light: Italian-American ethnicity in the mainstream. P. Kivsto. The Ethnic Enigma: The Salience of Ethnicity for European-Origin Groups (24-36). Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, Inc.