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FIERI Joins in Support of AIDA Suit vs. 'Sopranos'
FIERI, an international organization of young Italian-American professionals today joined IAOV, Sons of Italy, and UNICO in supporting AIDA's Law Suit against 'The Sopranos' . Support amongst Important National Italian American Organizations for AIDA's Suit vs 'Sopranos' is fast approaching unanimity.
It is now expected to be hearing like announcements from Regional/Specialty Italian American organizations to soon be adding themselves to the list.
It will the be interesting what other Ethnic groups will give support to AIDA, because having suffered defamation themselves, should be sensitive and sympathetic to the plight of Italian Americans, or whether they will be bystanders, showing that they are merely self interested.
New York, April 10, 2001 - Fieri, an international organization of young Italian-American professionals today endorsed the lawsuit filed by the American Italian Defense Association against AOL Time-Warner's HBO unit for its offensive series "The Sopranos." In the past, the media industry has taken such protests as disdainfully annoying to be dismissed or ignored. That is until now when the media giant will have to answer for itself in court.
"AIDA has a great case and we strongly support their approach…this is long overdue." said Roberto Ragone President of Fieri National. Of particular concern is that such imagery is so pervasive that now advertisers are now emulating the show - further perpetuating these negative stereotypes. AIDA's approach is unique. By seeking neither damages for Time Warner's actions nor a restraint on the airing of the show, AIDA makes no attempt to infringe upon Time Warner's right of free speech. Instead, AIDA seeks a Declaratory Judgment from the Circuit Court that various episodes or the series as a whole, breaches the Individual Dignity clause of the Illinois' constitution with respect to Italian Americans as a group.
In response to HBO's defense of the show on its 'artistic merit', Ragone held, "That is nothing more than a thinly veiled ruse; a self-serving argument as clever as the TV plot, equally distorting people's perception. HBO is out to make a buck, and to suggest otherwise is disingenuous. Just another attempt to reject any accountability for polluting the cultural landscape with more negative depictions of Italian-Americans."
"You're unlikely to see an ongoing TV series similarly exploit other ethnic groups. Its 'ethnic profiling' that exacerbates a more insidious form of bigotry and prejudice, which should concern every American." Ragone cautioned. "While we credit certain media companies for attempting more balanced portrayals of other ethnic groups, 'The Sopranos' repurpose the same old hackneyed characterizations with new window dressing. In fact, we [Fieri] contacted HBO after the first episode expressing our hope that the Mafia backdrop was a 'Trojan Horse' to introduce more balanced depictions of Italian-Americans. Obviously we're very disappointed at what has instead evolved. The conspicuous absence of the positive and the proliferation of the negative - this gap bolsters the Illinois lawsuit."
Ragone continued, "We hear the counter argument. 'Lighten up.' 'It's only entertainment.' More appropriately, 'the Mafia sells.'" Indeed, a 1999 film study conducted by the Italic Studies Institute indicated that Italian-Americans have been portrayed negatively as undignified, low-class people predisposed to crime in 73% of Hollywood movies produced since 1928. "People mention the sprinkle of positive moments on the TV show. But what is the lingering impression of Italian-Americans?" questioned Ragone. One answer may come from a study by Princeton Research, which reveals that more than half of the Americans surveyed associate Italians with organized crime. Meanwhile, the fact is the FBI and the US Justice Department consistently cite statistics showing less than .01% of all Italian Americans are involved in illegal activities.
"There are more than 30 million North Americans of Italian heritage and yet the stories chosen to be dramatized feature cliché gangsters, bimbos and buffoons. What about Giannini the founder of Bank of America, scientists Enrico Fermi and Guglielmo Marconi, World War II hero John Basilone, coalition-builders Mayor Laguardia and Congressman Mercantonio? Where are the positive portrayals?" asked Ragone rhetorically.
Founded in 1984, Fieri - the Italian word for pride - is a not-for-profit Italian organization of students and young professionals who promote the study of Italian history and culture, higher education, professional networking and the positive portrayal of Italians. Fieri has chapters in Boston, Brooklyn, Bronx-Westchester, Chicago, Long Island, Manhattan, Metro Detroit, North New Jersey, Queens, Rhode Island, Staten Island, Toronto and Washington D.C. Many other chapters are being formed.
For more information, contact Dominic Tassone, National Public Relations Director
at (212) 414-5440; (502) 608-5814 or pr@fieri.org, or visit www.fieri.org.
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