With last week’s release of the live-action “Lady and the Tramp” alongside the launch of Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+, Disney fans can now witness the iconic spaghetti date from the original 1955 movie come to life. But this beloved scene, widely considered one of the most romantic moments in Disney cinematic history, is ridden with ethnic stereotyping of Italian-Americans.

The chefs who prepare the spaghetti and meatballs for Lady and Tramp are an example of the caricatured Italian immigrants seen in countless movies and TV shows, including the cherished Disney classic. Assistant Professor of Italian Studies Sole Anatrone delved into these stereotypes and their political and social history in film on Wednesday, Nov. 13 during a lecture to students in the Italian department titled “Italy and Its Migrations: Fresh Off the Boat and Onto the Screen.”