Nowadays the word ‘Mafia’ refers nearly all groups or gangs involved in organized crime. However, originally, Mafia meant an organized criminal organization of Italian, predominantly Sicilian, heritage. In fact, this word is a mere literary creation while the real name is ‘Cosa Nostra’ meaning ‘our thing’.
For many years the common understanding of the Mafia was strictly limited by argument on whether there even was a Mafia. In the recent decades that argument was more or less settled, and the principal argument remaining is whether or not organized crime and the Mafia are one and the same thing. According to Finckenauer:
To this end, this useful primer to the phenomenon quite rightly tarts with a simple question that begs a complex answer: what is organized crime? Sometimes, the mobsters are easy to identify, a collection of ne’er-do-wells with no visible source of income but owning flashy cars and homes; involved in the staples of organized criminality, whether trafficking drugs or infiltrating legitimate businesses. The old stereotypes, which were always something of a caricature, are becoming even less applicable in the modern world. [...]
In part the confusion revolves around an understanding of the real nature of organized crime that existed since the earliest days of the nation and, indeed, earlier. It is worth remembering that, organized crime achieves its status not only by the fact of groups of practitioners, but also due to the fact that organized crime is syndicate crime in which certain activities are apportioned out to the various gangs and honored in the main by these gangs.
What is interesting, in the beginning and even till the 1950s, many people regarded the Mafia not as law-breaking criminals but as role-models and protectors of the weak and the poor, as the state offered no protection to the lower classes. The question arises, where from such interest and the phenomenon of ‘good-Mafia-attitude’ within the societies all over the world.
As it will be presented within the course of this paper, out of the numerous fiction books and movies, above all, Mario Puzo’s The Godfather from 1969 and obviously the film adaptation made by Francis Ford Coppola – were so successful that they deeply shaped a general understanding of the mafia [...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter One: The History Behind “Black Hand”
- 1.1 The Brief History of Mafia Development
- 1.1.1 The Development of the Mafia
- 1.1 The Brief History of Mafia Development
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis aims to explore the multifaceted nature of the Mafia, tracing its historical development and examining its portrayal in popular culture, particularly through the lens of Mario Puzo's The Godfather. The analysis will delve into the historical context of the Sicilian Mafia, its cultural impact, and the evolution of its representation in literature and film.
- The historical origins and evolution of the Sicilian Mafia.
- The impact of The Godfather on the public perception of the Mafia.
- The role of popular culture in shaping understandings of organized crime.
- The transition of the Mafia's activities from traditional criminal enterprises to white-collar crime.
- The complex relationship between the Mafia and the state.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter One: The History Behind “Black Hand”: This chapter provides a historical overview of the Sicilian Mafia, tracing its origins from feudal times to its expansion into the United States. It explores the Mafia's initial role as a protector of the weak and poor in a context of weak state authority, contrasting this with its later involvement in various criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking, gambling, and extortion. The chapter examines the lack of a clear hierarchical structure in the early Mafia and the challenges faced by Italian authorities in combating its influence. It also highlights the significant events that shaped the Mafia's evolution, and the eventual acceptance of its existence by law enforcement and legal professionals. The chapter connects the historical development of the Mafia to the broader context of organized crime globally, drawing parallels with other historical examples, such as Roman gangs and piracy, to emphasize the long-standing nature of such criminal networks. The narrative emphasizes the Mafia’s adaptation and evolution over time, including a shift toward "white-collar" criminal activities in more recent decades. Furthermore, the chapter delves into the complex relationship between the Mafia, state authority, and public perception, noting the long period where its existence was denied or downplayed.
Keywords
Sicilian Mafia, organized crime, The Godfather, Mario Puzo, popular culture, history, extortion, racketeering, money laundering, white-collar crime, cultural impact, public perception.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the subject of this text?
This text is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a thesis exploring the multifaceted nature of the Mafia. It traces the Mafia's historical development, examines its portrayal in popular culture (particularly through Mario Puzo's The Godfather), and analyzes its cultural impact and evolving representation in literature and film.
What are the key themes covered in this text?
The key themes include the historical origins and evolution of the Sicilian Mafia, the impact of The Godfather on public perception, the role of popular culture in shaping understandings of organized crime, the Mafia's transition to white-collar crime, and the complex relationship between the Mafia and the state.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction and Chapter One: The History Behind “Black Hand,” which further breaks down into a section detailing the brief history of Mafia development.
What does Chapter One cover?
Chapter One provides a historical overview of the Sicilian Mafia, tracing its origins, its initial role as a protector, its involvement in various criminal activities, the lack of a clear early structure, challenges faced by Italian authorities, significant events shaping its evolution, and the eventual acceptance of its existence by law enforcement. It connects the Mafia's development to the broader context of global organized crime, highlighting its adaptation and evolution, including a shift towards "white-collar" crime, and the complex relationship between the Mafia, state authority, and public perception.
What are the objectives of the thesis?
The thesis aims to explore the multifaceted nature of the Mafia, tracing its historical development and examining its portrayal in popular culture, particularly through the lens of Mario Puzo's The Godfather. The analysis will delve into the historical context of the Sicilian Mafia, its cultural impact, and the evolution of its representation in literature and film.
What are the keywords associated with this text?
The keywords include Sicilian Mafia, organized crime, The Godfather, Mario Puzo, popular culture, history, extortion, racketeering, money laundering, white-collar crime, cultural impact, and public perception.
- Quote paper
- MA Marta Zapała-Kraj (Author), 2009, Mafia - the history with Mario Puzo's Godfather in background, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/159068
