From Wiseguys to Wise Men: Masculinities and the Italian American Gangster Figure
As found in the lecture's brochure, Fred Gardaphe discussed the following ideas about masculinities and the Italian American gangster figure:
"What does one associate with an Italian America: pasta, large families, nice clothes, masculine men, the mafia? These are some of the common stereotypes Americans have had about Italians living in the United States since they began arriving in the late 19th century. Violence, sexism, machismo, overt sexuality and an obsession with abundance have characterized the persona of the Italian American gangsters of yesterday in films such as The Godfather and Goodfellas. Represented as highly physical, the images of Italian men have helped construct what it meant to be an American man. The 'wiseguy' character expresses both the experience of Italian immigrants and native fantasies that reveal the culture of American race, gender, and ethnicity. The wiseguy figure can be interpreted as a 'trickster' character long employed as a metaphor in American literature to serve as a model of improper behavior."
