ipl-logo

Plural Cultures Of Sicily: The Sicilian Mafia And Culture

422 Words2 Pages

Sicily is described to be a beautiful place filled with amazing culture, however the Sicilian mafia automatically gives Sicily a negative image that represents violence, death, and ordered criminality. Authors Jane Schneider and Peter Schneider of Mafia, Antimafia, and the Plural Cultures of Sicily discusses the social and cultural features of the Sicilian mafia by stating, “Sicilian mafiosi represent themselves as “men of honor” who solve problems (their own and others) without resorting to state-established law” (Schneider, 502). Although the mafia are viewed as violent criminals around the world, the Sicilian mafia view themselves as their own government that deals with their issues and other people's issues in their own way, without getting the police or law involved. The Sicilian mafia represents a criminal society filled with loyalty of the members, secrecy, violence, and death; and they are also known for wanting access and control over public goods and popular businesses. …show more content…

Many Sicilian males are automatically born into the mafia and are expected to withhold the family legacy because their fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or cousins were part of the Sicilian mafia before them. Although some Sicilian citizens do not want join the mafia but are forced into, others actually want to be a part of it due to the social status and privileges it offers the,, which is further explained when Jane Schneider and Peter Schneider stated, “The mafia offers its members the privilege of exclusivity and belongings. A symbolically laden rite of entry and effort at lifelong socialization situates them “outside” normal society and, in their view, “above” it” (Schneider,

Show More
Related

What Are The Similarities Between Asian Organized Crime And The Mafia

412 Words | 2 Pages

Asian Organized Crime and the Mafia encompass a strong sense of family loyalty, however Asian Organized Crime incorporates loyalty to friendships. The Yakuza, just as the Mafia, enforce elaborate initiation ceremonies. Initiation into the Mafia requires sponsorship by a member while for the Yakuza “recruitment is accomplished by ‘talent scouts’ who scour hangouts most likely to attract young delinquents” (Abadinsky, 2013, p.200). The Triads and the Mafia use elaborate initiation ceremonies which include a member sponsorship and a blood oath. More so, the Triads and the Mafia use a hierarchical structure in which Asians are said to be born into a hierarchically organized society.

Read More

Stereotypes Of Italian Imigration To Canada

67 Words | 1 Pages

Although stereotyped as mafiosi as a result of the prevalent representations of organized crime as an Italian occurrence, Italian immigration to Canada progressively led to the creation of a thriving Italian-Canadian community that persists to be an imperative part of Canadian society. Concisely, Italian-Canadians have and continue to play a chief function in fostering and stimulating multiculturalism, meaningfully impelling the social, cultural, and economic framework of Canada.

Read More

Italian Botleggers In The 1920's

1409 Words | 6 Pages

At the bottom there were associates and people who did business with the family (Mafia in the United States). Becoming a member meant loyalty, obeying the rules and a lifetime of

Read More

Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas

286 Words | 2 Pages

The story of ‘Mafia’, with all its violence, terror and internal turmoil has fascinated the Hollywood for a long while. It is no wonder then that Martin Scorsese's GoodFellas that is based on Nicholas Pileggi's bestseller Wiseguy is a cult classic. Unlike most other movies of this genre, GoodFellas does not focus on the romanticism of mafia, instead it shows the darkness inherent in that life. Through the story of Henry Hill, the protagonist of the movie played by Ray Liotta, GoodFellas explores the power and glory of being a mobster. When Henry is drawn into the orbit of Paul Cicero,the local kingpin, his life takes a complete turn.

Read More

The American Mafia By John Gotti

576 Words | 3 Pages

The American Mafia is a highly organized society of criminals also known as la cosa nostra, “things of ours”, by the government. The society is also known as the Italian-American Mafia, the American Mafia is anything but fabricated. John Gotti is no where near a humbled plumbing supplies salesman, he had a totally different persona, a dangerous mobster. John Gotti wasn't just any mobster he was the boss of the powerful Gambino crime family located in New York City. John Gotti was an entirely different man with secrets unperceivable by the naked eye.

Read More

Influence Of The Mafia In The 1920's

661 Words | 3 Pages

One way in which the Mafia was a major part of the 1920-1940 time period was the violence they caused. The Mafia was created due to the backlash of the prohibition act. They entered an illegal alcohol business that produced and sold the toxic beverages despite the law. After the Prohibition, the Mafia organized itself into a more

Read More

Al Capone's Influence On American Culture

1618 Words | 7 Pages

Organized crime became a very beloved occupation in American culture through the Mafia and gangs, while creating one of the most illegal businesses in the United States. Organized crime became very popular in the 1920s, with Al Capone being one of the pillars of organized crime. Through doing crime from cutting corners to murder and fraud, the mafia has influenced their way America, through money and fear. Through illegal trades like drugs and hits, finding ways to cut corners for money in many legal markets, as well as a labeled gentlemen called “The American Mafia, is a network of loosely affiliated criminal groups responsible for violent and illegal activities over many decades. Inspired by similar organizations operating in southern Italy”

Read More

Comparative Analysis: Scarface And The Godfather

760 Words | 4 Pages

These are the qualities not always associated with criminals. This subversion denies the norm, and establishes them as normal people living underground lives. Life in the mafia is not grand, rich or very healthy. It is one of the most dangerous profession (?) that one can enter. It is full of cynicism, betrayal and outright lies.

Read More

Mafi Organized-Crime Groups In America And Italy

1913 Words | 8 Pages

The Mafia or “Mafie” is an organized-crime group in America and Italy. The Mafia organization started in Italy after WWII. It started in Sicily. The name Mafia comes from the Italian word “Mafioso.” The word initially was used as a title for people with great authority and then it became a bad name when the Mafia became a powerful and dangerous organization .

Read More

Gambino Crime Family Essay

427 Words | 2 Pages

They are notorious for being the most powerful of the five crime families of new york. When people think of the mafia, they should think Gambino. They took advantage of the prohibition of alcohol to make money. Overall, they are extremely powerful and looked up to.

Read More

The Godfather: A Very Brief History Of The Mafia

1986 Words | 8 Pages

The Mafia has a long history dating back thousands of years, but the Mafia did not start in America, but instead in Southern Italy and Sicily. According to the FBI, the mafia has “evolved over the course of 3,000 years of invasion and exploitation of conquering armies in Italy.” (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Because of this “Sicilians became more clannish and began to rely on familial ties for safety and protection.” (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Read More

Italian Immigrants In The Film The Godfather Part II

1302 Words | 6 Pages

The eleven Italians were murdered due to the stereotypes that all Italians are mobsters. Even though in the film Vito Andolini becomes the head of the mafia years later, many Italian immigrants were met with discrimination and negative stereotypes. The negative prejudice associated with Italians alike “viewed them as having dangerous social tendencies, especially criminality” (Alba 67). All of these stereotypes made its presence in the Film “The Godfather Part II,” through violence and lack of respect for human life. Through historical events, such as the death of President McKinley by an anarchist in 1901, many immigrants were met with prejudice.

Read More

The Godfather Thesis

1028 Words | 5 Pages

However, although the movie might seem a little bit apologetic towards Mafia, and definitely has insiders' point of view, it still has the flavour of authenticity, necessary for the viewer to have a critical relations towards the characters and their morally questionable actions. The authenticity of the movie isn't just in some references towards real-life mobsters and mob-related stories and urban legends. Coppola worked very hard to capture the way of life in his native Italian American community, and also invested a lot of effort in order to have his epic story, that takes place in late 1940s and early 1950s, firmly set in that time period through production design, costumes, hairstyles and soundtrack that is well balanced with the original music of Nino Rota, that also became one of the identifying symbols of the movie. The most memorable element of the movie are its actors. Marlon Brando, almost washed-up in the time when he made The Godfather, gave the performance of his life by playing Vito

Read More

The Sicilian By Mario Puzo: Character Analysis

710 Words | 3 Pages

The Sicilian is a book that delves deep into understanding the character of a stereotypical Sicilian. Written by Mario Puzo’ The Sicilian tells the story of a man and how he turned into the ultimate siciliano. The story of Turi Guiliano talks about his growth from a young adult farmer to a notorious robin hood like character. The book slowly builds his character through a series of events and brings it down to a realization of his closest acquaintance. Which leads to the untimely demise of the protagonist, Guiliano.

Read More

Auteur Theory In The Film 'The Godfather'

1514 Words | 7 Pages

The way to rise up in the world and achieve power is through the use of violence, and with power, comes money. Despite this, it doesn’t condemn the mafia, but rather we are given the opportunity to make our decision on who is morally just and who

Read More

More about Plural Cultures Of Sicily: The Sicilian Mafia And Culture

Related Topics

Open Document