George De Stefano

I am an author, journalist and critic whose work has appeared in trade books, magazines, newspapers, academic journals, and online. My book, An Offer We Can't Refuse: The Mafia in the Mind of America (Faber and Faber, 2006; paper, 2007) explores some of my longstanding preoccupations as a writer: cultural mythologies and their social impact; ethnic identity and stereotypes; popular culture, especially film, and how such social categories as race, class, sexuality and gender interact in American society. As an Italian American, I have a personal interest in these topics. I've enjoyed gangster movies and TV shows, as well as novels such as "The Godfather." But I always wondered why these images of Italian Americans -- as hoodlums or similarly, as boorish, uneducated proles -- were virtually the only images in popular culture of people of my background. I also wanted to explore some related questions. Does the fact that so many non-Italians associate us with organized crime necessarily mean they are prejudiced against Italians? How are stereotypes of Italians as mafiosi like, and not like, other racial and ethnic stereotypes? What do the better entries in the mob genre -- the "Godfather" films, "Goodfellas" and "The Sopranos" have to say about American society, not just Italians? And why are so many people so fascinated with Italian and Italian American organized crime stories? According to critics, and actors such as John Turturro, who has played gangsters, "Offer" provides thought-provoking and often surprising answers to these and other questions about America's long-running romance with the mafia. MEDIA APPEARANCES: Since the publication of "An Offer We Can't Refuse," I have appeared in the documentary, "Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & The Movies" (2008; Pacific Street Films & Beachcomber Films; Executive Producer: John Turturro); "The Godfather Legacy" (History Channel, 2012) and will appear in the forthcoming PBS series, "The Italian Americans" (2014). You can also read my essays in two recent titles: Mafia Movies: A Reader (University of Toronto) and The Essential Sopranos Reader (University of Kentucky Presses). Both are available from Amazon. I also have contributed to: Mediated Ethnicity. University of the City of New York; "Identity Crises," on treatment of ethnicity, race, and sexuality in US cinema. Is the Mafia Still a Force in America? Greenhaven Press; "The Mafia is Still a Force in Pop Culture," American Voices: Culture and Community. McGraw Hill; includes "UnGoodfellas," which originally appeared in The Nation. Writing in a Changing World: Writer's Guide with Handbook. Longman; "Ungoodfellas and the Godfather Culture" Witness to Revolution: The Advocate reports on gay and lesbian politics, 1967-1999, 2000 Chris Bull, ed. Alyson Press, "The New York Times vs. Gay America." Reggae, Rastafarians, Revolution: Jamaican Music from Ska to Dub, Contributor, 1997, Music Sales Ltd I currently am developing some new book ideas, as well as pursuing opportunities in feature writing, commentary, and cultural criticism. Check out samples of my work at www.georgedestefano.com