Through the use of dream sequences and non-linear temporalities, The Sopranos illustrates the pri... more Through the use of dream sequences and non-linear temporalities, The Sopranos illustrates the primary tension between Italian cultural roots and assimilation into American culture that ultimately defines a contemporary diasporic consciousness of Italian Americans today. To be Italian-American is to be caught between strong links to the homeland and morality, tempered a persistent lack of economic opportunity in the United States post-immigration. This lack of opportunity frames the diasporic struggle. How does a white body become “American” when immigrants must start at a disadvantage, through Tony, we see this as not being “white enough.” He longs a return to Italy for a simplicity that never was, perhaps he knows that deep down, yet in the end he remains ambivalent. Has he assimilated? Can anyone ever assimilate?
Through the use of dream sequences and non-linear temporalities, The Sopranos illustrates the pri... more Through the use of dream sequences and non-linear temporalities, The Sopranos illustrates the primary tension between Italian cultural roots and assimilation into American culture that ultimately defines a contemporary diasporic consciousness of Italian Americans today. To be Italian-American is to be caught between strong links to the homeland and morality, tempered a persistent lack of economic opportunity in the United States post-immigration. This lack of opportunity frames the diasporic struggle. How does a white body become “American” when immigrants must start at a disadvantage, through Tony, we see this as not being “white enough.” He longs a return to Italy for a simplicity that never was, perhaps he knows that deep down, yet in the end he remains ambivalent. Has he assimilated? Can anyone ever assimilate?
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