There are multiple attributes people give to the Mafia based largely off what they see in the movies or on television. These qualities or myths can range from the head of the Mafia being the epitome of masculinity, to the Mafia being an omnipresent entity, whether it be in their immediate location or even miles away. The genre one utilizes to bring the Mafia to life on screens both big and small has a huge impact on how people interpret the Mafia myth. Genres can both glorify or dismantle Mafia myths and, in some cases, manage to achieve both in the same film or television show.
It is hard to say if drama functions better than any other genre with regards to Mafia myths. In The Sopranos we see the Mafia in a powerful way, chasing down a man who owes them money with a car, beating him in public and then threatening to throw him over a waterfall, all in the first episode. We also see the lead character, Tony, who is higher up within this organization, going to therapy, which, as discussed in class, is by no means a common practice for Italian Americans. Going to therapy or even simply expressing your feelings can and often does become viewed as non masculine. This can cause a viewer to stop and think about what ultimately defines masculinity and whether or not the myths the viewer knows of the Mafia regarding masculinity hold true. Throughout Totò’s story line in the film Gomorrah the audience is constantly reminded of the omnipresence of the crime organization. Whether it be inside the housing complex where we see a newly married couple walking just below the distribution of drugs, or the scene of the exterior of the same building where children are playing while on the roof next to them, members of the organization are on lookout. Drama shows the Mafia in a serious light bringing about feelings of how abhorrent the Mafia is, however, it can also lead to characters such as Vito Corleone from The Godfather being glorified.
Although comedy can appear vastly different from other genres, it can still get across the same message as dramas, perhaps in a more subtle way. The film In Guerra per Amore ends with the Mafia head becoming the Mayor. In the same film the viewers are shown the subservient Mafia members mistakenly killing the wrong man and appearing aloof. While the audience is caught up in one man’s journey for love, they are also being shown the power of the Mafia. Various criminals who have committed heinous acts are released from prison by the Americans. This exemplifies the ability of the Mafia to corrupt those who we wish to be or might believe are incorruptible, in this case, the U.S. military. Due to this film being a comedy, it may take a viewer some time to realize the effect the mafia had throughout the movie. In a drama, those effects are typically felt throughout.
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