Beginning a column on Politics and current affairs in this period, how can we avoid talking about it? We've tried resisting, almost self-imposing a silence about the whole affair, but it's impossible. Once again we have a government with Berlusconi and the Lega (Northern League). We’ll soon find ourselves, quietly eating an ice-cream in a bar, and the television will be showing pictures of our premier, the man who will be representing us abroad for the next five years: Silvio Berlusconi. And we'll be there, dumbfounded, letting the ice-cream drip between our fingers, thinking that it isn’t, can't, be true.
Those who, like us, dedicate their work to spreading knowledge of the Italian language and culture, often encounter prejudices and stereotypes in the image people abroad have of the typical Italian citizen.
The first, almost immediate stereotype represents us as vulgar people, (cheerful beyond good taste; without regard; coarse in our manner of speaking or behaving), who by the way of waving our hands, by the volume of our voices and by the noise we make when speaking can us immediately be recognised throughout the world. And us saying in the classes at Koinè: no, you're wrong, Italians are often shy, introverted, silent. Just think of Giacomo Leopardi. Then along he comes, Silvio, and makes a V-sign in the group photograph of European ministers or shoots at a Russian journalist, mimicking a machine-gun, beside his friend Putin.
The second is of the short Italian. Everyone still sees us as the Sicilian immigrant at the turn of the century, the children of generations of hungry families, maximum height around one metre sixty-five or like “little Caesar”, the Italo-American mafia criminal, always sitting on a higher seat than his fellow-diners. And us in the classes saying, no, you're wrong- Italians now descend from generations of overeating, we've grown in height, we're among the best basketball players in the world and in any case height is no longer seen as a problem. And what does he do ? Wears shoes with false insteps, won’t have his picture taken beside his taller colleagues and always has himself filmed by his television channels with the lens pointing upwards, stands on his tiptoes when he comes off the plane and tries to show everyone that he's a politician of “high standing”.
The third is of the Italian who doesn't speak any foreign languages. There's us in the classes speaking English, French, German, showing figures on how the new generations know at least two foreign languages. Then he appears before Bush and talks like Totò in “miss mia cara miss”, congratulating himself on the pathetic compliments received from his American counterpart.
The fourth is of the Italian who has no sense of civic duty and avoids paying taxes. We spend rivers of words convincing our foreign students that the situation has changed radically. Italians now have a well-developed sense of civic duty, a different and more positive concept of the State. They understand the importance of paying and making people pay taxes in a modern state. Then he goes and declares in a press conference that in Italy people pay too much tax and that it's understandable if a citizen tries to corrupt a tax official to try and pay less.
The fifth is of the Italian as a Mafioso. Our teachers explain with pride and enthusiasm that Italians have changed their attitude towards the Mafia that they no longer try to hide it, justify it and defend it. Then he declares, right in the middle of an election campaign, that one of his previous employees, convicted to three life sentences for various murders and Mafia crimes, should be considered a hero.
But we're getting too serious and taking the opposite direction to what this column was intended as. So, let's ask ourselves and you some questions: who's got the wrong idea of us Italians, us or Berlusconi ? How far does he represent us ? What is the current image of the Italian abroad ?
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written by Lourdes, June 16, 2008
I have now been living in Florence for 7 years, first coming to Italy about 10 years ago as a student. My view of Italians and Italy has changed with time and I am not sure I can offer the current image of Italians abroad as my view is now "tainted", in a manner of speaking, especially since I ended up marrying an Italian! Anyways, what I can contribute at most is my personal point of view and as a foreigner living here.
All stereotypes are born out of some truth, right? Before coming to Italy, I used to think most Italians were short, hairy-chested and with gold chains around their necks.
Well, I have seen some Italians that look like this but certainly not the majority!! I have seen and met some tall Italians, some light-skinned Italians and many with green and blue eyes. Nowadays Italians are more diverse physically. Italians have no taste? In what sense? I think generally Italians and Italy is seen as the center of style and fashion and you definitely need good taste to excel in those worldwide. Most Italians are very conscious of their looks and of how they dress, I think more than most Americans at any age. On the streets in Florence, full of natives and tourists alike, one can identify the Italians as the better dressed and fully accessorized. Italians would never wear flip-flops out on the street -- those are for the beach and shower! That is just one way to identify many American students in Florence!
I agree Italians can be loud and they do gesture a lot.... in general, Italians do use their hands more and whole body gestures to communicate, but maybe "more" is just relative to my own experience. It is not necessarily
a bad thing, but it does get bothersome in restaurants when you can't hear the other person you are dining with because everyone in the room is practically shouting. But it is a stereotype based on some truth...
As for languages.... aside from those who work in tourism-related fields, I have found that Italians generally don't care much for foreign languages. I understand many study English in school and those who take their language-learning more seriously often go abroad for a semester or two to actually learn it better or host Americans in their homes to have someone to practice it with. Most however know at most elementary English, at least in my experience.
As for civic duty, I find it it is sorely lacking in present day Italy. Civi duty goes beyond paying taxes and thinking more positively about the State (debatable as well). It means following rules and having respect for other human beings that live on the same street and same city as you do. It is participating in a community and being proud of belonging to it. I often get the impression that many Italians think each person should think only of themselves and their immediate family and no one else. I am also generalizing here but why is it is that there is still so much dog poo on the sidewalks (keep in mind that the situation has greatly improved over the last few years)? Why is it alright to double park on any street even if your car impedes traffic? Or parking on crosswalks? How about not stopping to let pedestrians cross at crosswalks and having to basically risk your life everytime you cross busy intersections?
Now when I go back to California to visit family, I experience reverse culture-shock the first few days. I am amazed cars stop to let me cross even if I hadn't yet started crossing!
Of course everyone should pay taxes and that way we'll all end up paying less. It is one measure of civic duty but in general, my impression is that this is one stereotype that is generally correct.
I hope everyone gets a chance to visit Italy and to form their own opinions on Italy and Italians. I'm afraid I've agreed and disagreed with half of the stereotypes you've presented here, maybe you'll get more comments soon and we'll see a wider sharing of others experience.
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Most however know at most elementary English, at least in my experience.