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"Soul Surfer" is a 2011 film, based on the real-life events in the life of Bethany Hamilton. At the beginning of the film, you are introduced to Bethany, an amazingly talented teenage surfer. Not long after the introduction Bethany is attacked by a shark and loses her arm. With the loss of her arm, Bethany discovers hardships she never knew possible. However, she continues to have the passion to re-learn how to surf in her current condition.

On her way to becoming a well-known surfer and role model, Bethany is told she is wrong quite often. Not only is she told that she "can't" or that she "shouldn't" continue to surf but, when she finally has the support of others they try to change the way to wants to surf. Her so-called "supporters" want her to wear a prosthetic, or adapt her surf-board. Bethany, however, is very against the special treatments and adaptions. So she doesn't change, she continues on doing things her own way. By following her intuition and doing things her way she ends up very successful.

I relate Bethany's story and the pop-culture version of it to the 5th transcendentalism tenet, intuition over reason. Throughout the movie, she picks what she wants over what others say is possible. by doing so she finds the success she's been looking for her whole life. Finally, after overcoming so much, Bethany relates to Thoreau and learns for herself that, " if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

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"I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

- Henry David Thoreau

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"Soul Surfer" (2011)

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"Mulan" is an animated movie from 1998 about a women who takes on the world. When all the odds are against her she perseveres, and saves her land. Obviously enough in the the cover-art, she didn't do it alone. However, throughout the movie these other characters offer no more than pieces of advice and the occasional distraction. In fact, most of the time these characters cause more problems for Mulan than anything else! Perhaps that is why Mulan is forced into being very self-reliant.

Throughout the story Mulan really takes the words, "Trust thyself:" to heart. In more than one instance Mulan is faced with trusting herself or following orders. In each of these instances she trusts herself, and it works great for her. Some example of her self-reliability would be: when she takes it upon herself to fight in her father's place; when she has to prove herself to Li Shang by climbing the tower; and of course when she goes to fight the Huns alone because no-one believes they are still a threat. These examples, and the whole movie in general prove to me that Mulan is a clear example of transcendentalism in pop-culture.

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"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Disney's "Mulan" (1998)

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" Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years." These words by Ralph Waldo Emerson clearly speak of an immense love for nature. A love that should not "in a thousand years." , and though it has not been a thousand years it seems man did tire. In the video "A Love Letter to Nature", the narrator speaks of beautiful encounters with nature. However, the video ends with a cry for action in the battle of global climate change.

I believe that this cry for help shows a modern day love for nature. Proof that man did not tire of the "perennial festival", but lives for it. In my opinion, everything that Emerson said almost 200 years still holds validity. Furthermore, that the World Wildlife Foundation was fighting for everything Emerson spoke of when they sent out this video less than 2 years ago(March 2, 2016). This is an example of transcendentalism because it shows the transcendentalist tenet of a love for nature in our modern day society.

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" Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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"A love Letter to Nature"
By: World Wildlife             Foundation (WFF)

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Have you ever written a love letter? Well, we have. We sat down and carefully, thoughtfully, penned our true feelings...for the Places We Love. Check out our video, which will be screened on television networks and in cinemas right across the country, and then make sure you switch off to protect the Places We Love on Saturday 19th March at 8.30pm.

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"The Perks of Being a Wallflower", is a 2012 film about 3 teenagers. Each of these teenagers is very different from the next, and quite honestly from everyone else. Charlie (the main character), is a very quiet and shy young man; but with the help of Sam and Patrick, he learns to be himself and not conform to society. Throughout the movie, Charlie is learning, in Ralph Waldo Emerson's words that," To be great is to be misunderstood."

However, Charlie isn't the only character not conforming to the ways of the world. Patrick and Sam are both very distinct transcendentalists throughout the film. These two characters not only follow the tenet of non-conformity but also a love for nature, a strong sense of intuition, and reliance upon themselves. In conclusion, I chose "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" because it exercises strong transcendentalist beliefs. The main one being non-conformity or the refusal of fitting the so-called "mold" made by society.

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" To be great is to be misunderstood."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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2012's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

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It is no secret that the Amish culture has different beliefs, values, and traditions than most of today's society. It is also widely known that the Amish maintain a very simple lifestyle as part of that culture. I believe that both of these Amish facts are widely known because of pop-culture. Using shows like "BreakingAmish"(2012-14) and "Return to Amish"(2014-17) to expose their very simple way of life to the world. However, the Amish culture may not be as widely recognized as transcendental through these TLC hits. One known fact of transcendentalism is that simplified living is highly admired, and sought after. Meaning that the Amish are living with characteristics of transcendentalism to this day (something TLC didn't mention).

Furthermore, I connected the quote from "Solitude" for mainly one reason. The reason is that when Thoreau says that he " ...thoroughly enjoyed its protection." it sounds so simple. This is because Thoreau is saying that he is made happy by such a simple, small, all entry home, and the rain. The simplicity of that statement reminds me not only of how the Amish live (free of society), but also how the transcendentalists loved the simple things. Which brings me to the conclusion that if you watch any of these Amish inspired  programs you will connect transcendentalism to the Amish!

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" I sat behind my door in my little house, which was all entry, and thoroughly enjoyed it's protection."

-Henry David Thoreau

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The Amish way of life depicted in "Breaking Amish"