Keep Ya Head Up: The Transcendentalist Movement

Transcendentalism has five main characteristics, confidence, self-reliance, appreciating nature, free thought, and nonconformity (Day). Most people today still find many, if not all, of these characteristics very important and necessary. This is reflected in our communities in the things that are produced in aim to keep these characteristics at the forefront of society. Although the Transcendentalist movement has since ended, key characteristic and beliefs of the movement still heavily influence our modern society in many aspects such as music, pop culture, and film.

Transcendentalist ideas are very prevalent in popular culture such as music. In Tupac Shakur’s song, “Keep Ya Head Up”, he says:

[...]I think it's time to kill for our women,

He is telling women to stand up for themselves and not worry about what men say, this is a very transcendental theme. He is also convincing them to stay confident that things will get better and brighter in the future. Another theme of transcendentalism in a song is “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. In the song, George Harrison sings, “Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo) Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right”(1-3). This line emphasized the transcendentalist idea of appreciating nature and self confidence. The sun symbolizes happiness, and when it is coming, he is confident that happiness is on the way. It also symbolizes the beauty of nature due to how the sun is so beautiful it makes you happy. Transcendentalistic ideas are a very common theme throughout music due to their diverse applications and relatable

The creator of transcendental meditation, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, describes it as, “becoming stabilized in the field of activity”. Yogi also says, “The whole thing is very simple. It is an absolutely natural process.” (“Practice Of Transcendental Meditation”). This shows how transcendental the idea of TM is, becoming one with nature and helping increase confidence and non-conformity. Many businesses, offering professional help with practicing TM, have opened all over the US in recent years. They offer classes taught by people certified in teaching the ways of transcendental meditation. TM is an ancient practice. It was originally part of the Vedic tradition of India--an idea that helped form Hinduism into what it is today--stretching back several thousand years. Since its introduction to the west in 1957 and its promotion by public figures such at The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys, TM has become a more widespread and accepted practice throughout the years and will likely continue to grow in the