Elisabetta DAmanda Headshot

Elisabetta DAmanda

Principal Lecturer

Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
College of Liberal Arts

585-475-6522
Office Location

Elisabetta DAmanda

Principal Lecturer

Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
College of Liberal Arts

Education

BA, State University of New York; MA, Nazareth College of Rochester; Ph.D., Middlebury College

585-475-6522

Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Invited Keynote/Presentation
DAmanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "As Good As Bread" - Documenting the Italian American Experience for Learners of Italian." AATI Long Island Chapter Meeting. American Association Teachers of Italian. Long Island, New York. 4 Mar. 2022. Keynote Speech.
DAmanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "As Good As Bread" - The Italian American Experience Beyond Columbus." Italian Program Presentation. University of Connecticut. Storrs, CT. 4 Nov. 2019. Keynote Speech.
DAmanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "As Good As Bread" - Documenting the Italian American Experience." Italian Program Presentation with Support of National Italian American Foundation. World Languages and Cultures Department - The College of New Jersey. Ewing, New Jerset. 7 Mar. 2021. Keynote Speech.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "Da Caterina Va in Citt (2003) a Baci Mai Dati (2010): "Piccole Donne Crescono" E La Commedia All'italiana Del Nuovo Millennio." Fifth Italian Symposium on Modern and Contemporary Italian Cinema. Indiana University Bloomington. Bloomington, IN. 24 Apr. 2014. Conference Presentation.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "Angela, Da Una Storia Vera (2002): Il Plusvalore Del Piacere Femminile Di Roberta Torre." Europe, Italy and the Mediterranean International Conference. Center for Mediterrean Studies. Erice, Sicily, Italy. 25 May 2014. Conference Presentation.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "Cinema on the Island: from Vittorio De Seta to Salvo Cuccia." Italian Cinema in the New Millennium. Modern Languages and Cultures - College of Liberal Arts. Rochester, New York. 12 Mar. 2014. Lecture.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "Il cinema etico di Mimmo Calopresti [The Ethical Cinema of Mimmo Calopresti]." New Trends in Modern and Contemporary Italian Cinema Symposium. Indiana University. Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, Bloomington, IN. 15 Apr. 2011. Conference Presentation.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "De Santis da Uomini e Lupi a Riso Amaro [De Santis from Uomini e Lupi To Riso Amaro]." Annual AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian) 2010 Convention. AATI. Erice Town Hall, Erice, Italy. 25 May 2011. Conference Presentation.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "The Ethical Cinema of Mimmo Calopresti (Presented in English)." Annual ACTFL (American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages) Conference. ACTFL - AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian). Colorado Convention Center, Boulder, CO. 18 Nov. 2011. Conference Presentation.
Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Vignelli, Massimo and Lella. The Vignelli Legacy. By Roger Remington and Elisabetta D'Amanda. 10 Mar. 2018. Embassy of Italy, Washington, D.C. Exhibit.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. Astrodance: A Dance About the Wonders of the Universe. 6 Aug. 2015. RIT Astrophysics Department Website Permanent Film Screening, Rochester NY. Performance.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. Torino Is My Town - Film. 19 Sep. 2014. Fringe Festival, Rochester NY. Performance.
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. Dance Me To the End of Space Time - Film. 19 Sep. 2014. Fringe Festival, Rochester, NY. Performance.
Riggio, Antonino. SEE-CILY The Island's Hidden Face. 5 Mar. 2014. University Gallery RIT, Rochester NY. Exhibit.
Scollo, Gaetano. Contemporary Italy - A View of Everyday Street Life. 23 Oct. 2014. University Gallery RIT, Rochester NY. Exhibit.
D'Amanda, Eilsabetta Sanino. Italian Cinema in the New Millennium. Oct. 2014. Webb Auditorium RIT, Rochester, NY. Performance.
Book Chapter
D'Amanda, Elisabetta Sanino. "Angela, Da Una Storia Vera (2002): Il Plusvalore Del Piacere Femminile Di Roberta Torre." Europe, Italy and the Mediterranean International Conference Proceedings". Ed. Antonio Vitti and Anthony Tamburri. Pesaro, Italy: Metauro, 2014. 90-99. Print.
Formal Presentation
Sanino D’Amanda, Elisabetta. “Thyssen Krupp. Mimmo Calopresti between Fiction and Reality to Give Voice to the Invisibles.” American Association of Teachers of Italian Annual Conference, Lecce University, Lecce, Italy. 28 May 2010. Presentation.
Sanino D’Amanda, Elisabetta. “Teaching Italian Language and Culture through Film Language.” Northeast Modern Languages Association Annual Convention. 11 Apr. 2010. Presentation.
Sanino D’Amanda, Elisabetta. “Preferisco il rumore del mare. Il pensiero meridiano nel cinema di Mimmo Calopresti.” ACTFL - American Association of Teachers of Italian. 19 Nov. 2010. Presentation.
Published Review
Sanino D’Amanda, Elisabetta. Rev. of Italian Cinema. Learn Italian with Films, by Anita Lorenzottiand Roberto Aiello. ITALICA, 87.1 (2010): n.p. Print.

Currently Teaching

MLIT-201
4 Credits
This is the first course in a two-course sequence. The sequence provides students without prior exposure to the language with a sound basis for learning Italian as it is used today in its spoken and written forms. The goal of the sequence is proficiency in communication skills with an emphasis on oral proficiency. The sequence also acquaints students with contemporary culture and life in the Italian-speaking countries. Students must take placement exam if this is their first RIT class in Italian and they have some prior study of Italian.
MLIT-202
4 Credits
This is the second course in a two-course sequence. The sequence provides students without prior exposure to the language with a sound basis for learning Italian as it is used today in its spoken and written forms. The goal of the sequence is proficiency in communication skills with an emphasis on oral proficiency. The sequence also acquaints students with contemporary culture and life in the Italian-speaking countries.
MLIT-301
3 Credits
This is the first course of a two-course sequence at the intermediate level. The sequence provides students with the tools to increase their ability to function in Italian. Communicative activities, contemporary texts, and the study of vocabulary and grammar are used to expand all communication skills, especially oral proficiency. This sequence continues to address issues of contemporary Italian life and culture.
MLIT-302
3 Credits
This is the first course of a two-course sequence at the intermediate level. The sequence provides students with the tools to increase their ability to function in Italian. Communicative activities, contemporary texts, and the study of vocabulary and grammar are used to expand all communication skills, especially oral proficiency. This sequence continues to address issues of contemporary Italian life and culture.
MLIT-351
3 Credits
Comparative study of Italian New Cinema and its predecessors from 1945 to the 21st century. Devotes particular attention to the perspectives that shaped race, space, gender, and national histories revealed though the cultural and cinematic contexts. Students will view and compare cinema from the Neorealist canon and the New Italian Cinema to explore the possible common thread in film language and the issues discussed. A special attention is given to gender construction in Italian cinema and cinema from United States. The students will write a comparative research paper on more than two films from the different periods, or create a project such as a short film. The course also contrasts the Italian culture and the cultures of the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It explores how Italian cinema was seminal in the development of cinematographic industries and production of other countries. Specific attention will be given to the comparison of Italian culture and colonial experience and the Global South. Conducted in English.
MLIT-449
1 - 4 Credits
An in-depth exploration of the Italian language and culture focusing on skills/topics that are not covered in sequential regular language courses.

In the News

  • June 6, 2024

    a group of students gather with a flag that says R I T Tigers Abroad.

    Event in Genoa, Italy marks milestone for RIT experiential learning programs

    RIT marked the 20th anniversary of its experiential learning programs in Genoa, Italy, with an event at the historic Palazzo Doria-Tursi, which houses Genoa’s city hall. The celebration, organized in collaboration with Door to Italy, an esteemed language school in Genoa that partners with RIT on the programs, highlighted the success of RIT’s study abroad and work abroad initiatives, which have enriched students’ academic and professional experiences over the past two decades.

  • November 15, 2023

    logo for the United States Department of Education, featuring a tree in the middle of the seal.

    Faculty receive new grant to expand foreign language education offerings with a focus on STEAM

    Faculty in RIT’s Modern Languages and Cultures department received an International Research and Studies grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the development of new materials and curricula for Chinese, Italian, and Spanish courses that focus on STEAM. Associate Professor Zhong Chen, Principal Lecturer Elisabetta D’Amanda, and Department Chair Sara Armengot will spend the next three years developing, testing, and implementing the new materials in the classroom.

  • January 28, 2020

    two men baking bread.

    Faculty member wins award at film festival

    Elisabetta D'Amanda, principal lecturer of Italian in the College of Liberal Arts' Modern Languages and Cultures Department, had her 2008 film, "As Good As Bread," given an Award of Exceptional Merit in the Depth of Focus International Film Festival in January.

Featured Work