ENGLISH 2003
Italian American Culture, Film and Literature

Prof. Fabio Girelli-Carasi
 

LECTURE Sept 15  --

 

FROM AN ASSIGNMENT:

"Once again, racism occurs frequently across the world and it is common to see people taunt another race. This issue has been ongoing for numerous years and I hope it can be reduced or completely resolved in the near future."

This was in reference to the cartoons and the videos. The author expresses HOPE that racism will go away.
What could be done to achieve this result?
My suggestion, for starters, is to avoid perpetuating stereotypes in all circumstances.
Another question: what can YOU do personally, from now on to help solve the problem?

 

 

With reference to another comment in an assignment:

On superstition: most of the cultures in the world believes in an 'invisible world." By that I mean dreams, visions, spirits, magic, astrology, omens, signs, miracles, curses, that cannot be verified with so-called "objective" means.

Senses cannot do it. Science cannot do it.

In our culture as well, probably a majority of people secretly believes in one or more aspects of the "invisible world." But we are ashamed to admit it for fear of ridicule.

Religion gets a pass, but if a religious person starts talking about dreams or the influx of the moon, they lose their credibility instantly.

Right?


 

Of course the story of the vampire caught the attention of several people.

From another assignment:

"My favorite scene is pretty much the entirety of chapter 3. I think this chapter had a lot of interesting scenes. What really caught my attention was the narrator’s story and description of the witch. The witch is just a beggar, but the people call her a vampire and blame various misfortunes on her. They blame her for cursing the sick baby and banish her from the village. She is forced to starve in the mountains without food and eventually gets beaten to death. The reason this scene stuck with me was that it reminded me of our class lecture on the way Italian immigrants were treated in America. Just like the Italian immigrants, the elderly woman was stereotyped because of the way she looks and her financial status.   The most memorable scene to me was the one where the “vampire” fell on the ground and began rolling in tears. This scene caught my attention because it really showed the decrepit emotional state that the woman was in as a result of being isolated and discriminated against. I recall the Italian cartoons and how they called for the extermination of Italians through beatings and drowning. This woman suffered a similar fate, and I could not help but feel pity for her as a fellow human being. This chapter shows that it does not matter where you are or where you come from, people will always find a reason to discriminate against someone who is different."

Question: do you believe Pascal when he tells the story that he ran into her in the mountains and give her bread? I don't. There is something expiatory that doesn't' convince me.

I am not saying Pascal is lying. Maybe he wishes it happened, maybe it was a dream that later became a memory (it happens to me a lot), maybe he changed details of the story to atone for having joined the others in believing the old woman was evil (remember he and his friends tried to "cure" her.)

Just saying...



 

 

 
  • SEND EMAIL "I read the syllabus"
  • I posted the links to the SEPT 8 recordings on the HOMEPAGE.

    TRIM DOWN YOUR PHOTOS
  • Review blog
  • Review assignments

TASK 2:  Did you watch the video. Was it useful to introduce the book?

What does this question mean? What is it asking for?


SAMPLE of BEST ANSWERS.

The most memorable scene to me was when D’Angelo was being forced by an older boy to bash the younger boy with a rock. During this scene I felt like I was a part of the character, there were moments where I was questioning myself on whether or not D’Angelo hurt the boy. When D’ Angelo started running away I had so many thoughts racing through my head like “What’d he do?”, “ Did he actually hurt the boy?”, and “How is the boy bleeding if D’ Angelo never touched him?” It honestly felt like I was running away from something when I didn’t do anything wrong. This specific scene made me connect to the book in a way I hadn’t expected.
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My favorite scene was in chapter one when the narrator shared a memory of the grandma before she passed away, and one of the memories was when the narrator went to the garret to get onions.
This reminds me of what I used to do for my grandma before she passed away. I used to help her get food from a cabinet which was close to the ceiling and she used to tell me funny stories of what she did when she was around my age while I would get food from there.
I emphasized the narrator, and I was happy when I read that part in the chapter because it brought back the good memories that I created with my grandma before she passed away.
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The older boy injured the younger boy and would put the blame on Pascal, even though he was innocent. His parents would blame him for hanging around troublemakers even though he didn’t do anything wrong. This scene stuck with me because my parents were the same way with me growing up. I would get in trouble for hanging with troublemakers even though they know I didn’t to anything wrong.

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BUT, just as important

It’s hard to say this is my favorite because it is more heartbreaking than anything, but the part that stayed with me is when D’Angelo writes, “It is the landowners and the moneylenders who are the real vampires among us – not the pitiable, demented old women” (45).  
SON OF ITALY
Think about an episode that needs clarification, ask questions.

About the episode with the stone: is your family's culture similar? The meaning is, if you are involved in troubles, even if you are the victim, you are just as responsible. To avoid trouble, don't go where trouble is.
*personal experience as a parent?
ON STEREOTYPES and JOKES -  BLOG
THE BLACK HAND  and THE SKYSCRAPERS OF NEW YORK

THE BIRTH OF A NATION
Jobs for Italians:

NEW ORLEANS - mostly Sicilians, fruit and vegetable market and port. Starting in the 1870s after the end of the Civil War.

From New Orleans to the Mississippi Delta: replacement for enslaved-workers.

LINK TO MAP

On the "RACE" of Italians
For TUESDAY, start updating your grade record sheet  LINK