How stereotyping shapes the public image of today’s Italian Americans. SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO [email protected] or mail to: “It’s Only a Movie,” Italian America Magazine, 219 E Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Include name and daytime telephone number. No telephone calls please. Mailed submissions cannot be acknowledged. Contributors’ names, when known, are in parenthesis. By Dona De Sanctis • CHILLING THOUGHT “Let us put you on ice,” of- old “No offense intended. We respect & admire Ital- fers The Ice Mother & Sons, ians.” See italiangungrease.com. Tel: 615-713-2023. which promotes itself with Email: [email protected] [Manny Alfano] Godfather imagery in its logo • MAMMA MIA? If the idea were not ridiculous enough, and peddles Italian ices from a Shannon Smurthwaite’s The Mormon Mama Italian truck. Among the flavors we Cookbook goes the extra yard to offend Italians and their find Bada Bing Bubble Gum, Wacked Watermelon, and classic cuisine. After each far-from-authentic recipe Berried 6 feet under. In her defense, owner Dawn “R.” the author adds what she considers a funny comment. says she’s an Italian from Brooklyn who prides herself Among them, “Italians change their hair oil every two on “keeping it clean and fun.” So who’s laughing? weeks,” and “Why don’t Italians have freckles? Because [Sebastian D’Elia] they keep sliding off.” [Terry Simpson] • DOCTORING THE SCRIPT Why does Hollywood • WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Need make the “bad guy” an Italian even when the book that concrete proof that Italian American men are second- a movie is based on does not? For example, in the novel, class citizens compared to men of African, Jewish The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot that Disney turned and Hispanic descent? Check out Dreamstime. into a movie, the name of the novel’s gifted teacher, com, which has more than 18 million stock photos Frank Giannini was changed to Patrick O’Connell that it sells to newspapers and magazines worldwide. and the villain is an Italian hairdresser, who is not un- It presents all four men but only the Italian Ameri- trustworthy in the novel. can looks unprofessional. (See below.) Despite the In the 1995 film, To Die For, based on a true story, stereotype Dreamstime promotes, the U.S. Census Bu- after the protagonist has her blue collar Italian husband reau reports that two of every three Italian Americans in murdered, his family hires a hit man to kill her. In the workforce are in white collar jobs. Contact Dream- real-life, the only Italians involved were the two state stime at 800 243 1791. [Manny Alfano] attorneys, Paul Maggiotto and Diane Nicolosi, whose successful prosecution of the crime resulted in a life sentence for the murderess. [Julia Tartaglia & the Italic Institute of America] • A SLIPPERY SLOPE What do you call a lubricant for guns? Why “Italian Gun The African American Man Grease,” of course even though the prod- The Hispanic uct is made in the USA and has nothing to American Man do with Italy. But wait...there’s more! You can also buy “Guido Gear” shirts and supplies to prove you are really The Jewish macho, claims the Tennessee-based online company. The American Man company response to complaints was the same old same The Italian American Man FALLITALIAN 2013 AMERICA 15 ITALIANFALL AMERICA 2013 15.