italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
Dear Dawn,
in my commentary I indeed also mentioned the Washington Post, a US paper, and the Espresso, an Italian magazine.
I also mentioned the fact that this is poor journalism that frantically sensationalizes the banality of evil, as journalists would come up with the most ridiculous old common places... Mexico as the country of laziness, and Italy with its pizza-mafia connection... and I was not the one to come up with menu statistics... if it's true that Sanfranciscans eat better than Washingtonians (for sure) it is also true that Italians do not only eat pizza, right?
Face value might not be necessarily a good thing when talking about symbols of a culture...
And yes, I did say that Silvio the delivery man, only facilitates the press in their poor job.
ciao
Stefania
________________________________
From: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies on behalf of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon 4/17/2006 3:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [I-S] Fwd: Re: "The Pizza Parliament"
italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
Cara Stefania,
Love your commentary, and I'm with you all the way. But I will have
you note that we're taking about the Canadian press (and Quebec to
boot!) here, not the "American". (And I dare say, "No! They are not
the same thing!" Without really knowing much better, I'd hazard a
guess that the Canadian press probably gives better coverage of
Italian news. Although I thought that both the NYT and NPR did a
pretty good job of covering the elections.)
Sorry, but if we're going to talk about stereotypes and details! I
just don't think we should blend Canada and the USA into one.
All the best,
Dawn Green
p.s. And, really, we do have many cuisine options here in the USA
beyond the 12 menu "classic". I don't know about Washington D.C., but
here in culturally-hip San Francisco we have a regular smorgasborg of
possibilities! I'm hoping that we can move beyond the old hamburger
and hot-dog stereotype...
>Dear Filippo,
>
>I don't know you, but I feel like I need to give you some support in
>this matter.
>Not only is the title inappropriate and ridiculous, but it's old and
>antiquated in its stereotypical approach to Italian culture tout
>court.
>Enough with Pizza, we also have tortelli di zucca, cavatielli,
>panzerotti, agnolotti and other very nice and delicious 'piatti'. As
>it is well known, Italian cuisine is quite varied and we certainly
>don't have 12 menus to rotate throughout the year, as it happens in
>the United States of America.
>We have many, many dishes, and our creativity does not stop to
>Versace clothes for spoiled Paris Hilton (not an hotel, but the
>owner's daughter).
>
>I remember that the Espresso in the early 90s had on its cover the
>image of Berlusconi with a nice sombrero (way better than his Summer
>bandana) and the Mexican Ambassador complained for the lack of
>appropriateness in such a silly depiction of his country as a Banana
>Republic one, fraught by ideological insecurity and ridden by
>corruption. He contended that we were much worse than the Mexicans.
>Granted, we Italians have nothing to boast about ourselves and how
>we run the country, but I wonder why a newspaper gains in using such
>trite motives in talking about Italian politics, or Mexican one, for
>that matter.
>I could suggest you bring this matter to the attention of the
>Italian Ambassador if I didn't know better. Many times on the
>W.Post I have personally read articles by a certain Daniel Williams,
>WP correspondent from Rome, that were just the apotheosis of
>superficiality. Often times, the press uses trite motives to attract
>readers who are not let's say sophisticated to make them read
>something actually worthwhile. Williams' articles were NOT
>interesting, not well-researched, actually grossly wrong.
>
>No action was ever taken, and this no matter who the current
>ambassador was... so, yes, the title "The Pizza Parliament" is not
>offensive according to the editor of the newspaper (how could it be
>otherwise? he must have giggled all night in great happiness for the
>smart choice in wording!), but merely crystallized in a time in
>which Italians could be offended by the ignorance and superficiality
>by which American press depicts us. Clearly, the age of Berlusconi
>has only re-enforced this opinion of Italians as puppets, indulging
>hedonists, and Americans rarely know/knew anyway the serious
>Italians. many of them do not appear on the news in fact. They stay
>at home and wonder why and how other Italians have voted for Silvio,
>the pizza delivery boy.
>
>
>Stefania Lucamante
>
>________________________________
>
>From: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies on
>behalf of Filippo Sabetti
>Sent: Mon 4/17/2006 2:59 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [I-S] "The Pizza Parliament"
>
>
>
>italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
>
>Following the recent Italian elections, the Montreal Gazette carried a
>commentary from a former diplomat who served in Italy (Gazette April 14,
>2006, p. a19).(The piece says that Prodi wil be handcuffed in making
>changes to domestic social policy, but he'll have more success in
>foreign affairs.) One can agree or disagree with the opinion piece about
>the chances of success of a Prodi government.
>
>But what do you think of the title that The Gazette editors gave to the
>piece, "The Pizza Parliament." ? Is this title ok? The Gazette editor
>in chief says that there is nothing wrong with the title. It's perfectly
>fine.
>
>What do you think? I find it objectionable. Am I being too sensitive?
>
>Welcome your reactions.
>
>thanks
>
>Filippo Sabetti
>
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--
________________________________
Dawn Green, Ph.D.
Department of French & Italian
The Language Center
Stanford University
650-725-8605
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