For This Assignment, I Would Like You to Form Groups of Two Or Three

Group Presentation – Final Project

For this assignment, I would like you to form groups of two or three. After forming your groups, choose a group leader for each group. The group leader is in charge of making sure the project is finished on time and making sure each group member is doing his/her duties. The group leader is also the mediator. If one group member has a problem with another member or has an outside problem that infringes on his/her group duties, then it is up to the group leader to deal with that problem efficiently and in the fairest manner. The group leader should also be somewhat of a “whiz” at the chosen form of multimedia for which the presentation will require.

Each group member will be given certain duties (determined by the group) in order to complete the project on time. Remember that this is a group grade as well as a group effort. If you are unhappy about the way things are progressing, then talk with your mediator. If the mediator cannot help, then you are able to plead your case through your personal statement that is to be completed at the end of the project. If warranted, final individual project grades will then be solidified by the personal statements submitted at the end of the project.

You will have ample opportunity to work on this project in the classroom; however, you will need to do outside work as well. This is where your outside activity comes into play (see below). I will be in the classroom to answer specific questions and to meet with students as problems arise, a facilitator of sorts. This can be a fun learning experience for everyone, or it can be a large pain in the butt; make the best of your situations and remember that your project will be presented on the final exam date for our course.

Directions:

I would like you to take into consideration as a portion of your secondary sources required for the completion of this assignment: our initial discussion on organized crime and masculinity, Louise DeSalvo’s article “Color: White/Complexion: Dark,” the episode of Happy Days we viewed in class, the discussion of Italian American stereotypes that followed, the episode of the Sopranos we viewed in class, Maria Laurino’s article “Italians on TV: From the Fonz to The Sopranos, Not Much Evolution,” the newspaper article titled "Congresswoman Takes a Whack at 'The Sopranos' Stereotype," the episode of Welcome Back Kotter we viewed in class, the discussion of stereotypes that followed, the film Little Caesar we viewed in class, your two page writing assignment on Little Caesar and images of masculinity, the handout portion called “Little Caesar: ‘It’s an Italian Picture’” taken from the book by Jonathan Munby titled Public Enemies Public Heroes, and Cindy Donatelli and Sharon Alward article “’I Dread You’?: Married To The Mob in The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos.” I am asking that you choose one of the following questions to work with:

(1) Define masculinity by using three films or television shows from the approved list below. In defining masculinity, you should be able to consider a number of "types" of masculinity. For example, in The Godfather, DeNiro's character Vito Corleone is contrasted with Bonasera’a character. There are other “types” as well such as Italian American priests, chefs, and the troubled Soprano son in the last season of the show. Rememberyou can not define what one artist (director) has achieved unless you know how the works compare with other artists (directors).

(2) In what ways are the problems of being Italian American related to consumerism, capitalism, politics, and prejudice? How have the responses to these issues represented both positive insights and perpetuated common stereotypes? You will want to know what each of these words (consumerism, capitalism, politics, and prejudice) means, so look them up. You will also want to deal with both the positive insights of these problems as well as with the negative common stereotypes. You may choose work from the approved list below to use as your primary work and you may have other items in mind such as commercials, ads from magazines, speeches, etc.

Things Your Presentation Should Include:

____ At least one form of multimedia (powerpoint, website, DVD, etc.)

____ Group Unity and Organization must be achieved

____ A portfolio of all sources, photos, slides, links… should be submitted upon completion (you will NOT get this back). I would like to see at least one Internet article, one valid web site source, one book source, and one magazine or journal used in your presentation. Photocopy all material used remembering to cite properly throughout your text.

____ Each member of the group must present a portion of the presentation

____ A personal statement (about one page) about the group and how each member

worked with the group in its entirety (this is submitted to me directly).

____ At least one outside activity should be attempted in compiling information for

your group project. Perhaps your group could interview numerous people or could hand out a survey throughout campus or at work. Maybe your group could survey by photo. You will need to write up this specific activity, create a handout/survey, and incorporate the compiled data into your presentation (the answers from this survey will stand, in part, as support for your claims).

____ A written portion of your presentation must be included in your portfolio. This is

where you will show off your newly acquired and mastered MLA skills. Three pages are sufficient per group. This should be text that is driven by your main goal, thesis, what you wish to prove about your topic.

____ Do not forget to proofread your work. Make this project pristine. Watch

grammar and do not rely heavily on the multimedia to say what you want to say. The presentation will be graded on all aspects of proper English and grammar as well as communication and group skills.

____ Finally, make sure you place a copy of your chosen multimedia in the portfolio (a

disk and a hard copy of the PowerPoint, a photocopy of the website with links, a copy of the video.

Primary Sources

Al Capone. Dir. Richard Wilson. Perf. Rod Steiger, Nehemiah Persoff. 1959.

Analyze That. Dir. Harold Ramis. Perf. Robert De Niro, Joe Viterelli, Cathy Moriarty,

Joseph Rigano. 2002.

Analyze This. Dir. Harold Ramis. Perf. Robert De Niro, Joe Viterelli, Michael Straka.

1999.

A Bronx Tale. Dir. Robert de Niro. Perf. Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo

Brancato, Joe Pesci, Kathrine Narducci. 1993

Casino. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perf. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent. 1995.

Chicago Gang Wars. Dremon Press, 1999.

Cobra. Dir. Joseph Henabery. Perf. Rudolph Valentino. 1925.
Donnie Brasco. Dir. Mike Newell. Perf. Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen.

1997.

The Freshman. Dir. Andrew Bergman. Perf. Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick,

Penelope Ann Miller. 1990.

The Godfather Collection. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Perf. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino,

Talia Shire. Paramount, 1972, 1974, 1990.

Goodfellas. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perfs. Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine

Bracco. DVD. Warner Brothers. 1990.

Happy Days. TV Land. TV Land Privacy Coordinator Broadway, New York, 13 June

2002.

The Last Don. Dir. Graeme Clifford. Perf. Danny Aiello, Joe Mantegna. 1996.

Little Caesar. Dir. Mervyn LeRoy. Perf. Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

1930.

Married to the Mob. Dir. Jonathon Demme. Perf. Paul Lazar, Alec Baldwin, Michelle

Pfeiffer. 1988.

Mean Streets. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perf. Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, David Proval.

1973.

On the Waterfront. Dir. Elia Kazan. Perf. Marlon Brando, Karl Malden. 1954.

Puzo, Mario. The Family. New York: Harper Large Print, 2001.

--. The Fortunate Pilgrim. New York: Random House, Inc., 1997.

--. The Godfather. New York: Signet, 1978.

--. The Last Don. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997.

--. Omerta. New York: Ballantine Books, 2001.

--. The Sicilian. New York: Ballantine Books, 2001.

Raging Bull. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perf. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent.

1980.

Scarface: The Shame of the Nation. Dir. Howard Hawks. Perf. Paul Muni, George Raft,

Boris Karloff. 1932.

Some Like It Hot. Dir. Billy Wilder. Perf. Tony Curtis, George Raft. 1959.

The Sopranos. Created by David Chase. Perf. James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie

Falco, Michael Imperioli. Brad Grey Television Production in association with

HBO original Programming, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.

True Romance. Dir. Tony Scott. Perf. Christian Slater, Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt,

Val Kilmer, James Gandolfini. 1993.

The Untouchables. Dir. Brian de Palma. Perf. Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Sean

Connery, Andy Garcia. 1987.

Wise Guys. Dir. Brian de Palma. Perf. Danny DeVito, Joe Piscopo, Harvey Keitel. 1986.