580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
Key research themes
1. How have Jewish actors and filmmakers shaped the representation of Jewish identity and stereotypes in American cinema?
This research theme examines the complex roles Jewish actors, directors, and producers have played in framing Jewish identity on screen. It addresses how Hollywood’s historical Jewish moguls influenced cinematic narratives, the evolution of Jewish stereotypes, and the introduction of new Jewish character typologies. The theme explores actors’ cultural heritage and identity management, the dual pressures of assimilation and ethnic pride, and how these dynamics manifest in both stereotypical and nuanced portrayals of Jewish characters in American film and television.
Key finding: This work highlights how Jewish émigrés and descendants in Hollywood shaped American cinema by embedding Jewish cultural sensibilities and moral seriousness into films while simultaneously confronting and negotiating... Read more
Key finding: This research tracks the historic ascendancy of Jewish immigrants from marginalized newcomers to dominant figures in Hollywood’s studio system, highlighting how antisemitism ironically catalyzed Jewish control of the... Read more
Key finding: This paper critiques contemporary TV shows such as 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' for relying on Jewish stereotypes despite their popularity. It analyzes character archetypes – the overbearing father, controlling mother, and... Read more
Key finding: The review synthesizes scholarship that documents a burgeoning field of Jewish film studies focusing on identity, representation, and the diversity of Jewish cinematic portrayals across different countries and eras. It... Read more
Key finding: Kellerman’s psychoanalytic study uncovers persistent Hollywood stereotypes depicting Jews as 'greedy, cowardly, and weak,' often represented negatively even in films not centered on Jewish subjects. This analysis demonstrates... Read more
2. How do Jewish linguistic and cultural markers influence character tropes and humor in American television sitcoms?
This theme explores the use of Yiddishisms and other Jewish linguistic elements by both Jewish and non-Jewish characters in American TV comedy, particularly sitcoms. It investigates how these linguistic cues function semiotically to produce ethnic humor, challenge or reinforce stereotypes, and enable complex identity negotiations on screen. Researchers analyze the metalinguistic use of Yiddish by non-Jewish characters to produce incongruity-based humor and new tropes that play on audience expectations.
Key finding: The study identifies three new comedic tropes—the Yiddish Mask, the Yiddish Tourist, and the Yiddish Connector—introduced by non-Jewish characters using Yiddishisms in sitcoms. Through metalinguistic analysis, it shows that... Read more
3. How are Jewish identity, memory, and functionaries during the Holocaust represented and reconsidered in Israeli cinema and television?
This theme addresses the portrayal of Holocaust memory, Jewish functionaries, and the politicization of trauma in Israeli media. It examines how Israeli documentary and satirical television challenge traditional narratives by depicting Jewish Holocaust functionaries in complex, often non-judgmental ways, reflecting evolving societal attitudes. Additionally, it considers how Israeli satire uses humor and parody to engage with the Holocaust as a living, politicized memory influencing Israeli identity and collective anxiety.
Key finding: This article analyzes Israeli documentaries 'Kapo' and 'We Wept Without Tears,' highlighting their careful, suspended judgment presentations of Jewish functionaries, such as Kapos and Sonderkommando members. It shows a shift... Read more
Key finding: The study reveals how Israeli television satire, through programs like 'The Chamber Quintet' and 'Wonderful Country,' has integrated humor in addressing Holocaust memory, not to disrespect but to articulate the Holocaust’s... Read more