Dr. Debarati Byabartta
Assistant Professor

Brief Biography

Dr. Debarati Byabartta is an accomplished Film and Media Studies (theories and criticism) scholar and educator from Kolkata, India. She holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from Texas A&M University, specializing in Transnational Film, Media, and Critical Cultural Studies, emphasizing Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Iberian Peninsula. Dr. Byabartta's academic journey crossed borders as she pursued her master’s degrees in India and Spain and professional development in Brazil, expanding her multicultural and multilingual horizons. Through her Ph.D. dissertation, she explored the Chaplinesque cinematic genres across cultures representing marginal communities and the associated socio-politico-cultural criticism via humor and Bakhtin's Carnivalesque. She is an international scholar committed to DEISJ initiatives. Throughout her career, she has been deeply engaged in transnational teaching and research to gain diverse perspectives and experiences. Her work seeks to bridge gaps and foster understanding among different communities through the lens of media and cinematic arts. In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, she is an avid follower of World Cinema and Television, particularly from the Global South. Her appreciation for storytelling transcends borders and encompasses a wide range of cinematic expressions. Her enthusiasm for humor and comedy and her genuine love for teaching and research create a dynamic and engaging learning environment for her students.

Research 

Social Justice Culture Diversity World Cinema South Asian Cinemas Latin American Cinemas Cinema from the Iberian Peninsula The Caribbean Cinema Transnational Studies Media Theory and Criticism Film History Global South Chaplinesque Genre, and Comedic Cultural Studies Humor Studies and Comedy Genres Studies of Women, Gender, and Transnational Feminism Diaspora Studies Subaltern and Postcolonial Studies Women's Cinema Queer Studies

Connections