IT’S “ONLY” A MOVIE . . . How stereotyping shapes the public image of today’s Italian Americans. Contributors’ names, when known, are in parenthesis.

Compiled by Dona De Sanctis • In his July 17 column, Macomb Daily reporter Chad • The cast of MTV’s reality show “Jersey Shore” features Selweski in Michigan complained about political “mud- eight young men slinging and mistruths,” but had no problem slinging and women of mud at the six Republican candidates “….all with Italian dubious character names,” he observed. “ The rule is if your name doesn’t and habits, who end in a vowel, you don’t stand much of a chance of represent them- surviving. Just ask the Sopranos.” Contact him at selves as Italian [email protected] Americans. Fully (Iole Taranta, Mt. Clemens, MI) half of them are • “Come and get whacked,” invites Ed Welsh of the Mul- not, however. berry Street Bar on postcards he hands out to people in They are: Ronnie Ortiz; Jenni “JWoww” Farley; NYC’s Little Italy. His Angelina Pivarnick and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi who website advises “If you comes from South America. had to whack a mob • Over the protests of Italian Americans, MTV has re- boss, you’d probably newed “Jersey Shore,” but decided not to air a re-run take him to this Little of “The Dudesons” because the American Indian Italy gem.” New York’s Movement (AIM) protested the episode in which four CSJ Chair Stella Grillo friends from Finland wear Indian clothes and perform sent him a very strong dangerous stunts to become honorary Indians. In its letter of protest, which apology to AIM, MTV stated that it dropped the epi- he has ignored so far. sode “in response to concerns raised by viewers and out Contact him at tony@ of sensitivity to the Aboriginal community.” Manny mulberrystreetbar.com or Alfano, NJ call 212/226-9345. • There is a lot wrong with Mafia II, according to Chicago • “DWI” (Driving While Italian) on YouTube, features Sun-Times reporter Misha Davenport. In his Aug. 26 a hairy-chested man sporting gold chains, a diamond review of the game, he complains that while it is set in pinkie ring and an “I Love Italy” bumper sticker, who the 1940s, it has a mobster reading Playboy, which first is stopped by a cop for driving alone in a carpool lane. appeared in 1953. He also faults the video game for The gangster opens his trunk to show the other passen- playing songs that weren’t available in the era the game ger, who is bound and gagged. As of August, 650,000 is set. Seems these “historical inaccuracies” spoiled have viewed the film written and produced by Temple the game for him, but not its relentless and offensive Matthews. (Philip Di Belardino, NYC) stereotyping of Italian Americans. Contact him at [email protected]

Send your contributions to: “It’s Only a Movie”, Italian America Magazine, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. E-mail: [email protected]. Include name and daytime telephone number. No telephone calls please. Submissions cannot be acknowledged.

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