Thursday, June 20, 2013
Political Mayhem Thursday: Stereotypes and TV
Gandolfini starred in my favorite TV show ever, The Sopranos. He played Tony Soprano, the conflicted, violent, sometimes lovable crime boss at the center of the show.
In playing a mobster, Gandolfini perpetuated a stereotype of Italian-Americans as swarthy mobsters. He was hardly the first to do so, of course, but was one of the more successful actors to play that type.
Is it wrong that television so often over-represents stereotypical archetypes of various ethnic groups?
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Is it wrong that television so often over-represents stereotypical archetypes of various ethnic groups? I say YES! Given that for many Americans, outside of school, television is the main source for expanding one’s horizon I would say fictional stories and characters should go the opposite way from over-representing anything. Artistic license should be reserved for writing and other forms of art only. I don’t know if any of you have come upon the stupefying, toxic barrage of reality shows. Well, I tell you…it beats any surrealistic movie you have ever watched.
PS I was also sad to hear the news of Gandolfini's death, he was a great actor and sounded like a really decent person.
As usual, you've posted an interesting question. I'm recalling my parents' reactions to the characterization of the bride's Greek family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My parents enjoyed the film but were dubious of the exaggerated characterization of the family, despite it being cloaked in humor. Yet we were glad to see the connections it forged within our culture and other ethnic communities. Movie, TV, books, are vehicles for communication and entertainment so they should instigate discussion.
(Sorry, posted before I was finished.)
So no I don't think it's wrong especially when it brings debate and conversation.
So no I don't think it's wrong especially when it brings debate and conversation.
YOU MEAN AMERICA, LAND OF THE MINSTREL SHOW, HAS A PROBLEM WITH OVERRELIANCE ON RACIST TROPES IN ENTERTAINMENT? WELL I NEVER!
# posted by 
: 12:52 PM
: 12:52 PM
I am pretty much okay with stereotypes as long as they are done lovingly. Mob stereotypes don't count. They are too much a part of our culture. After the Godfather, mobsters replaced cowboys as the most captivating characters in our collective imagination.
But, in general, art oftentimes exaggerates characteristics for laughs or dramatic effect or to take a storytelling shortcut.
Bad art distorts and sometimes makes us mad--especially when served up with some malice.
Of course, the best art focuses rather than exaggerates and, most importantly, offers truth--which often reinforces our own stereotypes or prejudices, at least in part, but gives us something new or unexpected to digest and leads to a fuller, truer picture.
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But, in general, art oftentimes exaggerates characteristics for laughs or dramatic effect or to take a storytelling shortcut.
Bad art distorts and sometimes makes us mad--especially when served up with some malice.
Of course, the best art focuses rather than exaggerates and, most importantly, offers truth--which often reinforces our own stereotypes or prejudices, at least in part, but gives us something new or unexpected to digest and leads to a fuller, truer picture.
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