Italian American Stuff: A Survey of Material Culture, Migration, and Ethnicity

Abstract

In this article we offer a critical survey of some approaches to material culture studies within an Italian mobility context, with a focus on Italian American history and culture. We situate our work in relation to greater academic and activist concerns that emphasize the transnational and political while highlighting ideologies that shape how particular kinds of vernacular aesthetic practices are valued or, more likely, devalued, among both hegemonic U.S. culture and the dominant perspectives within Italian American communities. We thus illustrate the ongoing relevance of studying material culture from an Italian American angle, including emerging digital models for doing so.