The following article appeared in the Purdue Exponent.

"The purpose of the class," said Lawton, "is to see the image of Italian Americans through the lens of different ethnic groups in the medium of film."

He says his purpose is to have students walk away from the class distrusting the media’s stereotypes — to find the truth behind cultures like the Italians for themselves. Watching some classic films along the way just makes the class that much better.

"Let me give you an offer you can’t refuse."

Just as the Godfather makes his offer, FLL 490M/H and ITAL 394M/H:"Mafia in the Movies" might not be a class to ignore. "The Godfather," "Scarface" and "Gangs of New York" are viewed on Thursdays. Martin Scorsese, Frank F. Coppola and Quentin Tarantino are discussed on Tuesdays.

Sound like something that is worth a few credit hours? Then "Mafia in the Movies" is definitely the class to put on your schedule.

When the word mafia is used throughout the United States, names like Frank Costello, John Gotti and the Gambini family often come to mind, along with pasta, big bosses and thick Italian accents.

Mafia means Italian right? Ben Lawton, an associate professor in the foreign languages and literature department, says no. "Organized crime has been around since way before the Italians came to America," he said.

Lawton, who was raised in Northern Italy and was a consultant for many years in the film industry, knows a little bit about Italian film. Sitting through just a single class, one cannot help but learn something about economics, history, social class and film style.

"The purpose of the class," said Lawton, "is to see the image of Italian Americans through the lens of different ethnic groups in the medium of film."

He says his purpose is to have students walk away from the class distrusting the media’s stereotypes — to find the truth behind cultures like the Italians for themselves. Watching some classic films along the way just makes the class that much better.

So if a class about mobsters, gangs and their role in culture sounds like a good elective or even if it just sounds better than one more thermodynamics of cross-gender speaking for repressed populations class, check out "Mafia in the Movies" for next semester.

The Exponent - features
http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/
bebop/showstory.php?date=2004/10/04&
section=features&storyid=mafiaclass