We are offering a free chapter from my book Camera and Action. Download Chapter XI—The Godfathers As America—FREE.
This chapter shows the important role The Godfather I & II played in the construction of American Identity during the 1970s when the quest for heritage and the need for roots (tradition) in the larger society became so popular. The films widened the lens of American identity to include the European ethnic in the mix of things and helped answer the question, who/what is American. Americanness, at large, became known as multicultural at this time, and the Godfather films helped audiences imagine what that meant, claiming ethnicity was no longer a barrier but an anchor of American identity.
By cinematic design of authenticity, The Godfather brought Italian culture to viewers from the inside revealing the dynamics of family, the importance of loyalty, and the key place cuisine holds in identity. This is a great film to explore how food played a major role in both constructing and reflecting American “ethnicity.” In these films food is not just a prop but an organic and necessary tool to shore up the narrative of an ethnic America. Check out how many key scenes happen around tables.
This chapter also highlights a critical contrast in The Godfather Part II where the warmth of an “ethnic” family eventually fades into the background, overshadowed by booze, cold business deals, and broken relationships. And what is left? An unforgettable impact on the psyche of America.
Just click the link and enjoy!
We are offering a free chapter from my book Camera and Action. Download Chapter XI—The Godfathers As America—FREE.
This chapter shows the important role The Godfather I & II played in the construction of American Identity during the 1970s when the quest for heritage and the need for roots (tradition) in the larger society became so popular. The films widened the lens of American identity to include the European ethnic in the mix of things and helped answer the question, who/what is American. Americanness, at large, became known as multicultural at this time, and the Godfather films helped audiences imagine what that meant, claiming ethnicity was no longer a barrier but an anchor of American identity.
By cinematic design of authenticity, The Godfather brought Italian culture to viewers from the inside revealing the dynamics of family, the importance of loyalty, and the key place cuisine holds in identity. This is a great film to explore how food played a major role in both constructing and reflecting American “ethnicity.” In these films food is not just a prop but an organic and necessary tool to shore up the narrative of an ethnic America. Check out how many key scenes happen around tables.
This chapter also highlights a critical contrast in The Godfather Part II where the warmth of an “ethnic” family eventually fades into the background, overshadowed by booze, cold business deals, and broken relationships. And what is left? An unforgettable impact on the psyche of America.
Just click the link and enjoy!
