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1A: ¨Where I Lived and What I Lived For¨

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1A: ¨Where I Lived and What I Lived For¨

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¨I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor... (since) it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
~ Ralph W. Emerson

The video of fireworks above is from homecoming, it shows how humans find time to show displays like these to liven people's days and literally "paint the very atmosphere," in order to connect with each other on an emotional level.

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"No wealth can buy the requisite leisure, freedom, and independence which are the capital in this profession. It comes only by the grace of God. It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker. You must be born into the family of the Walkers."
~ Ralph W. Emerson

The person in the image above didn't need a trail to get into the forest, walking overcame his being and with that "freedom, and independence" the person pictured above was able to find the simplicity and true meaning of walking.

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"The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance... The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood."
~ Ralph W. Emerson

The photo above is of a parent and their child in awe of the vast ocean, it shows that even in different stages of life a person can still appreciate and understand the power of nature the same way because nature is ever-present in our lives.

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"Therefore does beauty, which, in relation to actions, as we have seen, comes unsought, and comes because it is unsought... The beauty of nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation."
~ Ralph W. Emerson

The picture above supports how the entire world and mother nature exemplify beauty, beauty does not come in one form but instead, "reforms itself in the mind... for new creation."

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"Trust thyself... Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying the perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being."
~ Ralph W. Emerson

The photo above shows the woman trusting herself, looking to herself for guidance, and not searching for reassurance from others which is why Emerson says to "Trust thyself" in order to not look to anyone for approval but be who you want to be.

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2A: "O Me! O Life!" & "Dead Poets Society"

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2A: "O Me! O Life!" & "Dead Poets Society"

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When I first read the poem I thought, "Why is he suggesting i may contribute a verse," and " why do I have to use my life to maybe one day contribute a verse if the whole basis of transcendentalism is that I can make choices for my self and be an individual?" Upon a second and third reading, I realized Whitman isn't saying these things at all but is explaining that behind all of the disasters and envy plaguing society, the fact that us as humans can understand each other's pain makes it all worth it. In Dead Poets Society I thought Neil was going to be a basic "boy with strict parents turns into boy with understanding parents" after he reveals his passion for acting, but I was entirely wrong. Neil wasn't weak but he wasn't strong enough to be who he truly was, Mr. Keating helped him realize he could pursue who he was but Mr. Keating wanted him to become strong on his own. Neil's ending did not reflect who he was in the movie, but it did leave a lasting impression on the audience explaining the toll it can take on a person hiding their truest selves.

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The unity among the students after the death of a classmate and the loss of a beloved teacher represents the transcendental view of unity and oversoul.

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I will be the reason to women everywhere that no dream is too wild. I am going to be an Assyrian woman who is going to graduate from university and become a pharmacist. An Assyrian, who's people were subject to genocide. A female, who's counterparts never believed in enough to give equal pay to let alone educate for some time. There is no such thing as an epitome for meaning so I will not claim to be such, but I will complexly be simple old me.

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Being here in the moment,
The ambiguities of life lessen,
A never-ending reality,
I am here with thee,
Thee is here with me,
I catch sight of the freeing air,
Breathe in thine
Thee breathes in mine,
Seeing the dawn,
Absorbing the Golden Dawn.

For once in a lifetime,
I know of a purpose,
A purpose to be,
To be is to find meaning,
Meaning in the vastness of life,
Life in the vastness of meaning,
No more need for refinement
Refinement truly occurs in the absence of.
This is life,
Being here in the moment.

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My knuckles are cracked and bleeding from the razor sharp night air.
My nose is dripping and frozen.
I have to incessantly smear it on my sleeve.
Still, I choose to breathe in the forest.
The trees are curious about me.
They beseech me to dance with them.
I indulge.

The skies gaze, and whisper, “pre-constructs do not live here”.
I am free from man.
I cannot be lost,
because I dwell in the eternal order.
I dwell in Arcadia.
Here, the veil is lifted.
I am both important and unimportant.
I am both primitive and genius.
Here, the universe reminds me of the natural order.
Born from ashes, to return again
here, I am a bulb in bloom,
and my soul will stay.

~ Kiernan Liam

This poem explains how the author feels in the forest like he isn't being controlled nor held bac=k by society, which is what Transcendentalism preaches.

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The feelings that come with going outside and feeling the sun on your skin, something that occurs a lot in San Diego, is similar to a return to nature and simplicity as associated with Transcending.

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The sea is to remind people of the oversoul,  and that they are one part of an everlasting being.

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This photo reminds me of a return to nature and simplicity especially to "live deliberately."

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This photo represents that rejection of establishment as well as a return to nature as a tree curves perfectly to hug passers.

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8: Social Media's Effect On Transcendentalism

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8: Social Media's Effect On Transcendentalism

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The following picture shows how people can be slaves to social media and online presence, Transcendentalism shows that distractions or hindrances like these keep people from experiencing transcendentalism.

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The photo represents a person being their individual selves and finding their own way through the forest on their own terms. 

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Transcendentalism teaches people through nature to be self-reliant individuals who positively contribute to society by explaining to them that in order to find true meaning and purpose in life, one must trust their own perceptions and consciences during life even when it is hard to do so.

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"Nature is a state of being where one must go into solitary in order to find their truest selves, the ocean humbles, while the flower teaches truest beauty, and the rainbow after storms teach the balance that life gives to everyone."

"a person shouldn’t do bad things just because they can and this contributes to the idea that Transcendentalism supports the fact that people should be positive forces in the world."

"Nature is a force that tells people that it is okay to believe in the impossible if that is what one truly believes in their deepest being."

"Part of being self-reliant is doing things that make one happy, not doing things for status"

"If we were not strong and conformed to the standards of society then we would be all like these workers, unhappy and have no purpose in life. "