Synopses & Reviews
With over 9.5 million viewers and in its fourth smash season,
The Sopranos has profoundly altered Americans' views of New Jersey, HBO, Sunday nights, and especially Italian American culture and life. The show has not been without critics, who have lambasted
The Sopranos for presenting negative stereotypes of Italian Americans.
A Sitdown with the Sopranos is an insightful and balanced reply to this criticism from some of the country's most important Italian American writers. Edited by Regina Barreca, an acclaimed writer, scholar, and national columnist, the book examines eight key components of Italian American life and considers how accurately the show portrays these topics.
About the Author
Regina Barreca is Professor of English and Feminist Theory at the University of Connecticut. Her many publications include the best-selling book
Don’t Tell Mama: The Penguin Book of Italian American Writing, and a weekly column in
The Hartford Courant.
Table of Contents
Introduction—Regina Barreca • Sandra M. Gilbert on Family:
Life with (God)Father • Regina Barreca on Women: W
hy I Like the Women in The Sopranos Even Though I’m Not Supposed To • E. Anthony Rotundo on Men:
Wonderbread and Stugots: Italian-American Manhood and The Sopranos • Jay Parini on Ethnic Culture:
The Cultural Work of The Sopranos • Fred Gardaphé on Suburbia:
The Gangster as Suburban Trickster • Michael Flamini on Psychotherapy:
Pa cent’ anni, Dr. Melfi • Carla Gardina Pestana on Religion:
Catholicism, Identity, and Ethics in The Sopranos • George Anastasia on Organized Crime:
If Shakespeare Were Alive Today, He’d Be Writing for The Sopranos Introduction—Regina Barreca • Sandra M. Gilbert on Family: Life with (God)Father • Regina Barreca on Women: Why I Like the Women in The Sopranos Even Though I’m Not Supposed To • E. Anthony Rotundo on Men: Wonderbread and Stugots: Italian-American Manhood and The Sopranos • Jay Parini on Ethnic Culture: The Cultural Work of The Sopranos • Fred Gardaphé on Suburbia: The Gangster as Suburban Trickster • Michael Flamini on Psychotherapy: Pa cent’ anni, Dr. Melfi • Carla Gardina Pestana on Religion: Catholicism, Identity, and Ethics in The Sopranos • George Anastasia on Organized Crime: If Shakespeare Were Alive Today, He’d Be Writing for The Sopranos