The Real Housewives of NJ

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Are you talking about Italian organized crime, in general, or just this show?

If you're talking in general, I want to know the names of these researchers and the specific research methodologies.

It was four years ago this summer, I'll work on digging out what I've got that isn't my own research. Mostly it was that Italian organized crime, and the stereotypes that come with it, are not in the majority of organized crime in America. The class spanned the origins in Europe with Black Hand and how the traditional Italian groups are being edged out by Russian, Asian, and groups from Central and South America. We repeatedly discussed Mafia Myths and how things from the 20s still permeate today, especially with popular culture and the media.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Mostly it was that Italian organized crime, and the stereotypes that come with it, are not in the majority of organized crime in America.

That's a completely different topic. What you learned in your course is only dispelling the myth that organized crime = Italians.

Regarding this topic, the scholars who acknowledge the existence of organized crime (not all do) tend to acknowledge that Italian organized crime has a distinct culture from other organized crime groupings. This culture is essentially Italian/Italian-America culture, but it takes on a stigma and exaggeration when it is associated with organized crime.

This is why it is offensive that in many movies and shows the Italians are playing organized crime roles or are loosely associated with it. People who don't know any better associate Italians/Italian culture with organized crime, period, because of this media saturation. I think the promoters on RH of NJ knew that when they did the commercials and preview show. They wanted to spark viewer curiosity.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That's a completely different topic. What you learned in your course is only dispelling the myth that organized crime = Italians.

Regarding this topic, the scholars who acknowledge the existence of organized crime (not all do) tend to acknowledge that Italian organized crime has a distinct culture from other organized crime groupings. This culture is essentially Italian/Italian-America culture, but it takes on a stigma and exaggeration when it is associated with organized crime.

This is why it is offensive that in many movies and shows the Italians are playing organized crime roles or are loosely associated with it. People who don't know any better associate Italians/Italian culture with organized crime, period, because of this media saturation. I think the promoters on RH of NJ knew that when they did the commercials and preview show. They wanted to spark viewer curiosity.

I was using it in support of stereotyping these people as being Italian and living in New Jersey, and therefore being connected, as wrong since it isn't true (sorry if I didn't make that clear) that connected people are like this, or people like this are connected. In essence that it doesn't work both ways. I'm not saying there aren't people out there like this, but it isn't the current trend in Organized Crime.

I find former USSR (aka Russian) Organized Crime rings fascinating as they are quite prolific on the west coast.

Dirty confession, I considered reading the book about Danielle's ex, to the point I looked it up on WorldCat.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I was using it in support of stereotyping these people as being Italian and living in New Jersey, and therefore being connected, as wrong since it isn't true (sorry if I didn't make that clear) that connected people are like this, or people like this are connected. In essence that it doesn't work both ways. I'm not saying there aren't people out there like this, but it isn't the current trend in Organized Crime.

You're blurring the topic, but I think the main point has been made.

[whiteandblack]

less camera time on Lexi, please. thanks.

[DrPhil]

Theresa's kids are annoying as hell. Screaming at the dinner table and saying "no...nooooo..." when the mother tells them to close their ears. Ugh.

What's the kid's name who was doing the photoshoot? Yeah...she's a bitch.

[joliebelle]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What's the kid's name who was doing the photoshoot? Yeah...she's a bitch.

Jacqueline's daughter, Ashley? Yeah, she was being a major bitch at the photo shoot. If she wants to be a model/actress, she should learn to respect the photographer, and she should be thankful that her mom gave her that opportunity in the first place.

I'm happy for Theresa getting her new "bubbies"; she didn't go overboard with them.