From the Publisher
“Italian Americans in Film offers an in-depth exploration of the representation of Italian American identities in American cinema. Departing from the necessity to re-evaluate and renegotiate old cinematic stereotypes, all essays in this study look at Italian American identities as a complex aggregate that stems from the intersection of ethnic, racial, economic, and gender discourses. In rethinking the issue in a transnational and global cinematic context, this volume provides new opportunities for intellectual debate and fertile ground for original investigations.” (Simona Wright, Distinguished Professor of Italian at The College of New Jersey, USA, and Editor of NeMLA Italian Studies, a refereed journal published by the Italian section of the Northeast Modern Language Association under the sponsorship of NeMLA and The College of New Jersey)
“Whether it is reconsidering canonical Italian American cinema through a newfound theoretical lens or exploring under-studied but significant films,
Italian Americans in Film analyzes the representation of Italian Americans by challenging preconceived stereotypes and reflecting on personal experiences. Daniele Fioretti, Fulvio Orsitto, and their contributors have bridged traditional discourses related to these Italian American films with Gender Studies, Ecocriticism, and Visual Cultures, amongst others. Their fresh approaches will be critical for bringing Italian American film studies into the 21st century.” (Ryan Calabretta-Sajder, Associate Professor of Italian and Associate Director of Gender Studies, University of Arkansas, USA)
“Italian Americans in Film represents an important contribution to the study of Italian Americans and the media. Written in an accessible style, this book brings the work of Italianists to bear on Italian-American representations and filmmakers. Its breadth is impressive. Collectively, the volume’s highly esteemed authors shed new light on often discussed films like The Godfather, while also bringing much needed attention to neglected titles like Ask the Dust and Donnie Brasco.” (Jonathan J. Cavallero, Associate Professor in Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies and Founding Director of the Bates Film Festival, Bates College, USA)