dc.contributor.author |
Senzani, Alessandra. |
en_US |
dc.contributor.author |
Youngstown State University. College of Arts and Sciences. |
en_US |
dc.date.accessioned |
2011-01-31T14:16:28Z |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2019-09-08T02:35:27Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2011-01-31T14:16:28Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2019-09-08T02:35:27Z |
|
dc.date.created |
2004 |
en_US |
dc.date.issued |
2004 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.other |
b19695585 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://jupiter.ysu.edu/record=b1969558 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/1989/6079 |
|
dc.description |
v, 120 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm. |
en_US |
dc.description |
Thesis (M.A.)--Youngstown State University, 2004. |
en_US |
dc.description |
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-118). |
en_US |
dc.description.abstract |
The paper explores the intersections between representations of ethnicity and class, focusing
on the role humor plays in constructing ethnic and class identity on the big screen. The aim of
the study is to show that humor can be used to subvert mainstream negative stereotypes, while
still signaling acknowledgment and appreciation for past ingroup stereotypical representations.
Object of the study are mafia films and, specifically for the analysis of the humor, mafia
comedies featuring Italian Americans. Sociological and semantic studies of humor have been
brought together and the overlapping between semantic scripts, ethnic stereotypes and
sociological findings on ethnic jokes has been shown. This provided a theoretical framework to
analyze humor as a manifestation of both class and ethnic stereotypes. The analysis of the two
mafia comedies, The Freshman (1990) and Analyze This (1999), has confirmed the hypothesis
that humor functions as a commentary on ethnic and class identity. Moreover, recent mafia
comedies have been read as parodies of past mafia movies directed by Italian Americans. The
analysis has emphasized how parodies exploit humor to signal continuation and change
simultaneously. Like class and ethnic humor, parodies reiterate the previous discourse, signaling
critical distance through humor. In conclusion, the paper has found explanations for the
pervasive use of humor by ethnic and class minorities, by interpreting it as a tool to critically
comment on the historical, sociological, political reasons behind mainstream stereotypes about
the group. It is a means to appropriate and invert the discourse, thus turning it into the face of the
initiator. |
en_US |
dc.description.statementofresponsibility |
by Alessandra Senzani. |
en_US |
dc.language.iso |
en_US |
en_US |
dc.relation.ispartofseries |
Master's Theses no. 0808 |
en_US |
dc.subject.classification |
Master's Theses no. 0808 |
en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Italian Americans in motion pictures. |
en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Stereotypes (Social psychology) in motion pictures. |
en_US |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Italian Americans--Humor. |
en_US |
dc.title |
Ethnicity, class and humor : stereotypical representations of Italian Americans in film / |
en_US |
dc.type |
Thesis |
en_US |