Alessandra Galassi
Lecturer of Cinema and Television Studies
Dr. Alessandra Galassi’s research highlights the overlooked figures of Italian cinema, particularly during the post-WWII economic boom. Her work focuses on forgotten directors and the portrayal of women’s lives and socio-economic challenges, calling for a reassessment of the contributions of this lost cinema to Italian film history.
Dr. Galassi’s research focuses on Italian director Antonio Pietrangeli, emphasizing his prioritization of female protagonists and their environments. She argues that his films, even the unpublished ones, offered a unique perspective on the “commedia all’italiana” genre by centering on women’s experiences and resilience in a changing society. Pietrangeli’s depiction of gender dynamics not only reflected but also critically examined societal transformations, contributing significantly to cinematic realism and female representation, a theme aligned with Dr. Galassi’s broader interest in Italian literature, film studies, and cultural analysis.
More About Me
Dr. Alessandra Galassi earned her PhD in Italian Literature and Film Studies from the University of Connecticut, building upon her Master’s degrees from Queens College of New York (CUNY) and the Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza.”
Dr. Galassi’s academic career involves teaching Italian language, literature, film, and culture at institutions in New York and Connecticut. She has received several honors, including a Pushcart Prize nomination in 2018 and teaching excellence awards. Additionally, she has film industry experience, working with the Miami Italian Film Festival and writing film reviews for online publications.
Representative Courses
- CIN 1500 Intro to Cinema Studies I
- CIN 3830 Italian Cinema After Neorealism
Publications
- A critical introduction, selection, and editing of fourteen poems by the Italian poet Guido Catalano for a special section in the Greek Literary Magazine, Teflon, Τεφλόν, 22, Winter issue, 2019.
- Translations of Guido Catalano’s poems “Our Eyes” and “It’s Not Bad After All” in New Poetry in Translation, Vol. 4, 2018.
- A book review of “Cronache dal cielo stretto. Scrivere il Nordest” edited by Cristina Perissinotto and Charles Klopp, published in Italica, 94 (3), 641-644.