Hello, and welcome to my neck of the woods! My name is Brendilou Armstrong, and I am a '26 hailing from the cornfields and grassy plains of Western Nebraska. This year, I plan to involve myself in The Dartmouth and WebDCR (Dartmouth College Radio). I couldn't be more excited to set out on this expedition through college alongside all of you. Thanks for visiting my page!
If you are interested in Victorian literature in any capacity, this is the class for you! It is a course taught by the WGSS (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) department and combines historical and political aspects into a literary seminar. The material is compelling and allows you to view female authors, including Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Gaskell, in a different perspective knowing the societal context of the time period and themes in their most popular works.
If poetic language and artistic writing styles are your forte, this is the perfect class for you! Taught by the English/Creative Writing department, Introduction to Poetry is an incredible foundation to storytelling, introducing students to poetry styles from prose to ekphrastic and written to slam. The approach to teaching the course revolved around the strategies of Robert Frost, where the Poetry Room in Sanborn Library held our class, and students' chairs were arranged in a circle rather than in rows of desks. CRWT 12 is one of the most unique and fascinating classes I have taken thus far, and as a result, has become my favorite class I have taken on campus.
Niche classes and concentrations define a Dartmouth education, and before this term, I never intended on taking an Asian art history course, let alone one with such a defined focus. Taught through both the Department of Art History and the Department of Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages by Columbia University guest lecturer Seher Agarwala, this course contextualizes sacred architectural structures of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic faiths. I left this course with a newfound interest in the artistic practices of East Asian cultures and an appreciation for their diverse historical backgrounds and religions.
For any Los Angeles natives or those generally wanting to delve into the history of southern California, this class is for you! Focusing mainly on the contributions of minorities to the area, this class provides insight on the seldom-discussed history of L.A. through the perspectives of non-white settlers from the 18th century to the present day. Through examining controversial films depicting L.A. (including La La Land and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood), I left this course with a deep understanding of the sacrifices made to construct contemporary Los Angeles.
If the history behind 1960s politics, fashion, art, music, and society interests you in any capacity, this class is the perfect fit for you! Taught through Dartmouth’s Humanities Department, this course covers the late 1950s through the early 1970s, focusing on the era's transformative nature while immersing students in the time period through samples of art and music. What an incredible introduction to an incredibly important decade!
Through the Foliage and Fallen Acorns: My Fall Term in a Nutshell
Four weeks into my junior fall and the classes and activities I'm involved in this term are some of my favorites that I've done thus far. From fully indulging myself in my major to partaking in quintessential New England fall activities, here is a full synopsis of what I've been up to during my third consecutive Hanover fall (aka the beginning of my last two years at Dartmouth)!
In terms of classes, I've decided to begin fulfilling my major requirements as an English major with a concentration in creative writing. This fall, I am taking English 45: Introduction to Literary Theory, a course focusing on the philosophy of interpreting literature; English 53: Modern American Women Poets, a course highlighting feminist poetry of the 19th-21st centuries; and Creative Writing 11: Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, a course spotlighting the art of narrative journalism.
As for extracurricular activities, I have decided to continue writing for the arts section of The Dartmouth, the College's independently-run student newspaper. This, along with my writing-heavy classes and my remote internship with Trill Mag, a student-run magazine based in New York City, have provided me with a surplus of wonderful writing experience.
Although I love the scholarly aspects of Dartmouth's fall term, the beauty of New England cannot be overlooked. With the return of colder weather and leaves ranging in shades of reds and oranges comes the revival of fall festivities that I have decided to partake in. In the last few weeks, I have hiked Gile Mountain to view the Upper Valley's vibrant fall foliage and spent a weekend in Cape Cod, located approximately three hours from campus—these are only two of the many recreational activities I have yet to check off for a fulfilling east coast fall.
My friends and I at the top of Gile Mountain!
Me standing on a dock in Cape Cod, Massachusetts!
I am ecstatic to share these exciting autumnal experiences with all of you, dear readers. Stay tuned for more on my junior fall!
Through Dartmouth's Guarini Institute for International Study, I am getting to take classes and experience life at Wellesley College, an all-women's school!
