Brent Ryan Bellamy

Sydendham, Ontario
English M.A. (Public Texts)

Getting the green light to write his master’s thesis on Bruce Springsteen wasn’t the only thing that encouraged Brent Bellamy to complete both his undergraduate and graduate degree at Trent University. “I stayed at Trent because I was confident in the individuals spearheading the Public Texts program, but also because of Peterborough,” he explains. “This is a great town, everything you need is here. It has all the qualities of a city, but it’s not overwhelming.”

Reflecting on the University where he has spent his post-secondary career, Brent says, “Trent was my number one choice from the start. The campus is beautiful and I like the college system, the small class sizes and capacity to get to know faculty. I wanted the opportunity to know my teachers and have real conversations with them.”
           
Brent came to Trent from Kingston, Ontario in 2003. After receiving his undergraduate degree in English, he decided to forego plans to complete a B.Ed., opting instead to become one of the first students of the new Master’s program in English (Public Texts) at Trent. This spring, he becomes one of the first graduates of the program, and has thoroughly enjoyed his experience.

“It’s been great,” Brent says about the innovative new program. “The program is really diverse and the focus allows for interesting projects. The study of texts means that you can really tackle almost anything, so long as it can be considered public text, while still maintaining the focus of the program. This program is an investment in intellectual pursuits.”

For his master’s thesis, Brent has been tackling “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen, a subject that may seem unconventional but fits right into the ideology of the Public Texts program.

“I pitched the idea to Professor Michael Epp the first day of class and he was totally on board,” Brent says. “My thesis grew out of a passion for the music and literature of Bruce Springsteen and tying it to the road. ‘Being on the road’ is an American literary tradition and tying that to Springsteen’s music offered a way to legitimate his music as literature.”

Brent further explains that just as a piece of text connects readers regardless of their background or current situation, Bruce Springsteen’s music connects his audience. “His audience is having a shared experience, even though they have nothing in common. They are strangers relating and sharing catharsis. Add to that that his music is steeped in a literary tradition, his poetics are truly transformative.”

In speaking about his educational experiences at Trent, it is clear that Brent is passionate about music. He says playing open mic nights and working at Trent Radio are memories he’ll take with him from Trent. He is also passionate about academia. “I have a commitment to writing, reading and working in an academic capacity to better others. It’s very important to me that what I’m doing is important. I need to know that what I’m doing is going to make a difference in the long run.”