Full Citation

Title: A Man in My Position Can't Afford to be Made to Look Ridiculous: A Study on Local Versus National Public Discourse Concerning Mafia Activity, Centered in Northeast Ohio

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2017

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Abstract: My original hypothesis stated that national discourses on organized crime would be both realistically and unrealistically condemnatory, while local discourses would view mafia members as something akin to folk heroes. To some extent, this hypothesis proved correct. Many national portrayals justly or unjustly characterized members of the mafia as bloodthirsty killers with a lust for violence. Respected publications did so in order to condemn the mafia, while less respected publications, such as pulp fiction novels, did so in order to shock and titillate their audience. On the other hand, local beliefs concerning organized crime, observed in local histories, newspapers, and other publications, took multiple different stances. Some local narratives viewed the mafia as folk heroes, while others viewed the mafia as murderous gangsters in the same way that national publications did. In some cases, the local community accepted violent organized crime members because they frequently gave back to their community, through consumer goods, helpful services, or money. By comparing and contrasting respectable mainstream publications, low art pulp novels and cartoons, local Northeast Ohio newspapers and publications, and local histories written by Northeast Ohio individuals, a blurry outline of how different individuals perceived, interacted with, and described the mob emerges.

Url: http://www.samhuryn.com/uploads/1/0/8/0/108086289/aaa.pdf

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Authors: Huryn, Samuel

Publisher: Ohio State University

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Crime and Deviance

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