Examples Of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophy, an attitude or a belief. It began somewhere in the early to mid 1800s. After that, it began reappearing around the 1960s and 1970s, in the form of “hippies,” the poster children for the essence of that era. Transcendentalism was a response to the tough, cut and dry lifestyle of the Puritans. Puritans believed in predestination, the fact that nature was evil, and that conformity was one of the most important things in a society. The transcendentalists believed just the opposite, the believed in things like reincarnation, nature was pure and a way to practice religion, and individuality. “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay “Self-Reliance.” The

In a recent political meeting, female Democratic politicians wore white to symbolize that they stood with Women’s Suffrage, just like the women of nearly 100 years ago. These women are an excellent example of modern transcendentalism through individuality. They decided that they should do as the women before them and pave a way for the women of the future. Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus are two more examples of the individuality of transcendentalism. Lady Gaga makes it clear that what people say about her, does not hurt or affect her. She dresses in any way she wants, wearing bizarre outfits, makeup, and sporting wild hairstyles with bright colors. Miley Cyrus is a former child star, compared to other child stars of the time, she is just like the rest of them in a way. She has now become her own person, saying what she wants and wearing unique outfits. Neither of these women care what others think, they do what they want because it makes them happy. It makes them unique. It makes them individuals. Even now, people want to follow their dreams, fight for what they believe in, and do their own thing. In the movie Dead Poets Society, Professor Keating teaches the boys about individuality, the opposite of what the school wanted them to learn; conformity to society. At the end of the movie, one of the main characters, Neil Perry, commits suicide because his father would not grant him the individuality he craves. Neil wanted nothing more than to be an actor, but his father would not allow it. People’s beliefs on nature may not be the same as the transcendentalists, but they still generally respect it. The Native Americans fighting against the DAPL are one example. The pipeline would likely pollute the water and kill many animals, greatly harming the ecosystem of the area. Transcendentalist ideas also reach beyond real life, in the video game Fallout 4