Well, here is yet another expert that states that, not only are youth NOT IMMUNE 
to Film/TV influence, but that Film/TV is THE MOST Instrumental in SHAPING 
their attitudes about other Ethnicities, even above Educators!!!!  
 
Carlos E. Cortés, is professor emeritus of history at the University of 
California, Riverside.  His latest book, "The Children are Watching: How The 
Media Teach About Diversity," was released in March by Teachers College Press 
at Columbia University. 

The book has already earned praise from Elizabeth Thoman, president and 
founder of the Center for Media Literacy. 

Cortés, whose heritage includes Mexican Catholic immigrants and Jews from 
Eastern Europe, is known for his insightful analysis of diversity in American 
popular culture. 

When Cortés uses the word "diversity", or "multicultural", you must 
understand that the meaning goes far beyond merely speaking of DIVERSE 
representations. Cortés is speaking Also how about HOW they are 
Represented!!!!

If anyone doubts whether Hollywood attempts to often consciously affect those 
Representations, one only has to be read Cortés' statement: "Until the last 
few decades, Jewish moguls historically kept Jewish characters out of 
movies," said Cortés. "They felt to be invisible on screen was the best way 
to assimilate."  

Hollywood manipulating portrayals! Who would have thunk it?? Does one imagine 
that Hollywood is still doing it, but now to the serious detriment of Italian 
Americans? 

While Cortés has knowledge of the general concepts of Media's effect on 
Society, he stumbles badly when he naively comments about Italian American 
Negative Stereotyping.   Cortés states: "The Godfather"... did not stereotype 
Italians-Americans, but it fed into existing stereotypes and spawned less 
worthy spin-offs." 

Let me see if I read that right. "Did NOT stereotype..., but FED into 
existing..."

That sounds to me, only like a slightly lesser dose of poison!!!!

Cortés says the Mafia is a subject that can be used with subtlety or it can 
be abused.  
He cites as an example, the controversy over "The Sopranos." Rather than 
stereotyping Italian-Americans, Cortés said, "It actually parodies 
stereotypes in the tradition of 'Prizzi's Honor.'" 

Absurd. Parody is the ridiculing of the subject. How indeed does "The 
Sopranos" ridicule the Mafia Stereotyping of Italian Americans??? 

This is just another example in a continuos stream of Academics and Writers 
being sensitive only to "certain" ethnicities, accorded "preferences and 
privileges", and are 
"blind" to the calumny heaped on Italian Americans, as one of the last 
bastions of permissible bigotry. 

Let me deeply wish that this is done out of ignorance, maybe pejudice, but 
certainly not by devious design?  

http://fiatlux.ucr.edu/april00/stories/television.html