Angels of Evil: Sympathetic Perpetrators on Small Italian Screens

A lecture by Dana Renga, The Ohio State University.

Why is it that we forge deep relationships with onscreen characters whom we would regard as undeserving of positive ethical judgment were we to meet them in our day-to-day lives? Why is it that, via the medium of television, we invite them into our homes, even though we would strive to protect ourselves from their nonfictional counterparts? How does narrative transform ‘villains’ into more ethically complex characters while still representing their villainous behavior? To answer these questions, this talk looks at the representation and appeal of criminals when they are the subject of popular fictionalized accounts, focusing on a selection of recent, well-known Italian Sky television series that humanize and create sympathy for perpetrators (e.g. Gomorra: la serie, 1992, Romanzo criminale: la serie, and Faccia d’angelo).