ENGLISH 2003
Italian American Culture, Film and Literature
SPRING 2021
Prof. Fabio Girelli-Carasi
LECTURE MAY 14 ZOOM LOGIN INFO I
believe the meeting URL will remain the same for all future meetings.
|
ATTENDANCE Send email - get it back. |
THE
GODFATHER
-- Is the Don a hero? Do you root for him, do you want him to win? Do you think his enemies are bad people? -- Everybody hates Carlo. But why do they get rid of him? -- -- THEMES from your assignments: loyalty to the family; even when they are criminals? Would you cover up for your brother or sister if they committed crimes? -- Love- the broken hearted Kay. Abandoned without a reason. She becomes the gangster's girl, going against her upbringing, the ultimate Wasp. But she does not show signs of deep trouble or internal conflict. -- Some said Puzo does not know how to represent a credible woman character. -- The backstory: how does he become a gangster. Fanucci (the Black Hand?). -- Is it well written? --- If this was your only introduction to Italian Americans, would you like to hang out with people like that, with that kind of family-oriented mentality (not just the criminal aspect?)
As I was reading the book, I found myself enjoying the violent parts, where the Corleone family inflicted pain upon those who hurt them. I especially loved the parts where Sonny beat Carlo each time he found out that his sister was hurt.. I did not enjoy the pain she went through as a woman who put her life in the hands of a domestic abuser to the point where she was unable to stand up for herself. I believe Kay was forced in the family rather than making her own decision to involve herself. I believe we enjoy these emotions because we need to feel some sort of satisfaction towards what people deserve and when they get it, it calms us knowing they have received far more pain.
I did find myself rooting for Don and Tom the most in the story. I really enjoyed their dynamic even in the most difficult of moments. I didn’t find Michael that redeeming of a character to root for. I surprisingly didn’t hate Solozzo, Tattaglia and Barzini because as the family said a lot of what they are in the business of is greed and keeping it strictly “business” – even though that often wasn’t the case for motivations. The Mike’s restaurant shooting, Don’s shooting, and Sonny’s toll booth murder were some of the most detailed and engaging sequences. Honorable mention was Paulie’s disposal – that whole POV chapter was interesting to get inside the heads of the so-called henchmen who do the dirty work but are quite smart. I wasn’t too surprised by Kay’s final initiation into the family and acceptance of her Mafia role. She always seemed ride or die for Mike even before everything went down. I think I enjoyed the drama, loyalty, backstabbing, secrecy, and anger is because they feel like real raw emotions. Even in the moments of thinking and staying calm you still feel like things can be turned on its head in any moment. Reading the intimate thoughts of the characters as everyone around them feels like the situation is on thin ice and any next move can be just as fatal as the last was exciting and engaging. And the moments of sincerity and passion felt just as important to the telling of the story and characters as it brought back their humanity (i.e., including deep detailed backstories of the smaller character and how certain choices can influence decision farther in your life).
|
GODFATHER: The PEAK of the ascent
Cartoons: (dangerous,
deviant, non-human)
THE ITALIAN. Urban.
The technology introduces the notion of
narrative of these immigrants. they can be
narrated in full stories, bigger depth.
CHRIST: They
want in. they settled, buy a house, strive to
become GREAT AMERICANS. and instead of integrating, THEY STAY AT THE MARGIN. GODFATHER: STILL AT THE MARGIN Fabula time is 1946, the real time is 1969.
Do you remember the video about the 'Mericans'
(Italian who realizes he is an American when he
is already an adult?) FAILURE OF INTEGRATION: kept outside, and they reacted by pushing themselves to the extreme. POLITICAL STATEMENT: in 1972,
ITAM bring a suit against CUNY for
discrimination of the work place. They bring in their own entertainer, top of the charts, Frank Sinatra.
SYMBOLISM of EXTREME EMARGINATION: In the movie a moment where Corleone is afraid. CLIP (The worst handled character in the movie LUCA BRASI)
WHY is it FAILED INTEGRATION? 290 WE REFUSED TO BE FOOLS, PUPPETS TOTALLY DELUSIONAL, |
Corleone
victim of circumstances, can't escape his destiny IS HE A POSITIVE CHARACTER as he is presented in the book / film? Do you think that book and film give him the MORAL and ETHICAL justifications for his conduct? And what is YOUR opinion about him? A HERO or the embodiment of EVIL? \====================================================================== |
METAPHYSICAL perspective: GODFATHER AS EVIL. Movie more than book 1. When he first appears with the UNDERTAKER, Buonasera. Dark, cavernous, hell like. 2. ABBANDANDO: 45
Metaphysics of hatred == malocchio 441 -442
LUCIFER
=================================== April 4, 1968 Assassination of Martin Luther King June 6, 1968 Assassination of Robert Kennedy ======================= GODFATHER AS HERO TO ITALIAN AMERICANSThe myth of the strong man. Violence as positive value = part of the American value system.
The HERO (from
the Greek tradition to Rome - to the chivalric
tradition - to the military leader.) The Christian hero (Parsifal) Crusades= the Knights - hero for a cause not for personal gain. HERO as patriot (formation of nation states, 1500 - 1800)
ITALIAN PSYCHE: the underdogs
National
anthem NOI FUMMO PER SECOLI CALPESTI E DERISI
(1800's)
MUSSOLINI -- Italians AND Italian Americans invest emotionally very heavily in Mussolini. GLORIES of ROMAN EMPIRE WWII - defeat.................. MUSSOLINI BUFFOON
|
MODERNISM CLICK THIS LINK |