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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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“The millions are awake enough for physical labor; but only one in a million is awake enough for effective intellectual exertion, only one in a hundred millions to a poetic or divine life. To be awake is to be alive. I have never yet met a man who was quite awake”

- Henry David Thoreau

This remark is best illustrated by this image since it shows how positively one is affected when "[being] awake," including the woman depicted in this photo being seen as relaxed, not bearing the burden of daily matters, but instead experiencing the benefits of Transcendentalism.

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"...Most of my townsmen would fain walk sometimes, as I do, but they cannot. 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"

- Henry David Thoreau

The photo attached illustrates how the person depicted has the will to walk and clear their thoughts, something that comes naturally from the mind and not through physical possessions.

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“Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This image best describes how having a deep appreciation for nature at a young age will cause them, as an adult person, to regain those same abilities, since they have maintained the practice of respecting the world around them, rather than losing themselves in their daily lives.

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"And as the eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make beautiful. And the stimulus it affords to the sense, and a sort of infinitude which it hath, like space and time, make all matter gay. Even the corpse has its own beauty"

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The artwork embellished within this picture conveys the idea that all abstract forms of nature contain their own unique sense of beauty which can be deciphered on a closer through a person of higher intellect.

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"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater"

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The illustration portrayed within this photo symbolizes the idea behind the quote which is that one must remain true to themselves, practicing nonconformity due to the morals and beliefs of society heavily differing from those of an individual, even being seen as being wrong or incorrect.

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2A: My Reaction to "O Me! O Life!" and "Dead Poets Society"

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2A: My Reaction to "O Me! O Life!" and "Dead Poets Society"

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Walter Whitman's poem, "O Me! O Life!" explores the notion that numerous people live pointless lives and should instead make contributions to society in the ways they find fulfilling. According to the storyline of the film, "Dead Poets Society," Neil was not capable of sharing his verse to society since his father forbade him from pursuing his interests. He took his own life as a result because he despised leading a meaningless life under someone else's influence. Prior to taking his own life, he should have, in my opinion, tried to talk to his father, but the film made it apparent that this was not a possibility. That being said, it is clear that, similar to Neil's scenario, people experience a loss of meaning in their lives when they can not make a significant contribution to society.

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In the film, "Dead Poets Society," Neil killing himself prior to him trying to tell his parents about his aspirations to be an actor was alarming. Neil believed that he had no other options because he could not openly communicate with his parents, which defies a significant Transcnendental Tenet.

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Nobody in this entire universe has the exact same abilities as me. I chose what my abilities, attributes, and strengths are so that my verse during the short time I will be on this Earth is my musical capability. My emotions, words, and acts directed at other people will be to inspire my listeners and ultimately unite them together. My desires, goals, and anxieties will be put out to accomplish my purpose of composing pieces from merely listening to any song and having the skill to play it back exactly the same. My contribution to the world will be through the accomplishments of my music, helping create a concord between all groups of people, whoever they are, and wherever they are from. This process will help me discover myself for who I am, giving me the sense of fulfillment I have desired since the beginning of my journey. The way I dress, speak, write, and compose, are all unique in their own ways in order to help me fulfill my verse. I can build upon my mistakes in previous trials, creating more pieces in which the world would be able to experience the natural beauty of a non-materialistic item. I myself am able to create an alliance between numerous groups of people, bringing them together for a mutual sense of relaxation in an auditory fashion, my composing ability.

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Continually I observe so much of society operating their conscientious responsibilities; adults, students, and workers all wake up at the break of day, only to end their work late, operating their burdens to influence the core of existence.

Later, when they return home, they must contend with additional familial, friendship, and health-related concerns. Finances and overall usefulness in life are just a few of the motivations that each of them cites for what their purpose in life is.

Indeed, these are admirable motives, however they will remain with little to no time for considering their true goals, whether or not they will feel a sense of contentment is minuscule.

The weapon of history demands us all to soak ourselves in what we shall be, the one we are going to be, and to what range we bear the world’s richness.

Early in childhood, we are classified and trained depending on external judgments. One can be seen as being polite, or lovely, and many more characteristics society views as being fond.

Can we as a people think independently of one another? Are we, as a people, worthy of defying convention? It appears that society values cooperation and submission, and individuals who exhibit these traits are honored with status and wealth.

Some people have the courage to veer off the beaten route; they choose to slow down and relax by a forest, meditate, or even enjoy the sheer presence of the wilderness around them.

Choosing to go outside of societal norms and disregarding laws and regulations will in fact carry some hazards. These offenses could be detrimental to economic repercussions.

Within modern day society, people who choose to work to their maximum capability are rewarded, while those who appear to appreciate the essence of the environment will eventually be punished.

Early experiences shape our reputations, which can be damaged by a single error. One simple phrase has the power to break the average relationship, but even go as far as destroying a long lasting friendship.

People live their lives constantly worrying about whether or not they are too insulting, kind, careless, or overall, not productive enough.

I observe the daily trickery between groups of people as I get closer to a grown and mature state. The tasks we set for other people in the name of poetry fail to fascinate me.

We continuously go on the attack against people who fail to meet our standards and adhere to our ideas, rather than encouraging one another.

People will not necessarily be interested in a certain topic, and will have failed to do any investigation, yet it appears that everyone has a viewpoint. Sometimes, it feels like everybody will require attention for themselves.

I do recognize the necessity of contributing to life’s course as I live my life. The ultimate goal in being on the planet is to make the world itself a more connected and better place.

I myself am a devoted leader, but I will faithfully carry out the responsibilities given out to me by the generations prior to mine. I have the freedom to choose my career, whether that is as a musician, engineer, doctor, or architect.

Yet, I will not let society define what kind of a person I will be and what I will surmount, while I play the game that is life.

I am not required to act in a manner similar to that of society. I have the ability to navigate and pick my own direction. I can decide against judging other people. Instead of seeking vengeance, I would prefer to forgive and forget the mistakes of other people.

Indeed, if I have all of my thoughts in order, I could merely sit in nature without a burden to bear. I would not care if I receive severe judgment for losing what is seen by other people as “valuable time,” but instead enjoy my transcendental experience of being happy with who I am.

The true moral of life itself is to achieve a state in which we find ourselves not endlessly working, but satisfied and content with who we are and what has become of ourselves.

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5: A Modern-Day Example of Transcendentalism - "Man vs. Wild"

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5: A Modern-Day Example of Transcendentalism - "Man vs. Wild"

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This photo is a visualization of the actor, Bear Grylls, in the show "Man vs. Wild," in which he is practicing the transcendental tenet "Individualism and the Goodness of Man," following his own morals and beliefs, as compared to those of society, and solely relying on himself to survive.

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The hashtag, "#transenlightenment," is being used in my post from the app, Snapchat, which represents my appreciation for nature, and my deep understanding of its beauty and benefits on my health.

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This image highlights on Thoreau's transcendental belief in being "awake" because I choose to enjoy a pleasure as simple as walking through nature instead of living the same repetitive life of work everyday.

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This image contains my visit to a waterfall during my summer break, in which I learned from Ralph Waldo Emerson that having a higher intellect, and a closer relationship with nature will help me realize the simplistic peace it brings with it.

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7C: The Transcendental Abilities of Music

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7C: The Transcendental Abilities of Music

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This video practices the transcendental tenets of "A Return to Nature and Simplicity," and "The Rejection of Traditional Establishment" because it highlights how beauty can be interpreted in numerous ways, such as in an auditory factor, but also how playing the piano on a boat can seem unjust, yet it helps to capture the essence of the water itself.

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8: Challenges To Living Out The Transcendental Tenets Today

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8: Challenges To Living Out The Transcendental Tenets Today

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This photo illustrates how addictive social media is, symbolizing how the man is "chained" to his screen, which will reduce his motivation to seek peace from nature, thus stopping him from following the transcendental tenets.

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The image depicts a person in nature, meditation on themselves and soaking up the beauty found around them. They would later utilize this beauty as motivation to create original art, practicing the art of individualism.

Thesis: Nature inspires people to create and educates them to be independent because self-reliance and individualism result in each person offering something unique to their community, ultimately benefiting their society altogether.

“The beauty of nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation” (Emerson 3).

“It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson 7).

“He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world” (Emerson 5).

“Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at least which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men'' (Thoreau 46).

“Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs” (Emerson 6).

“Not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society which I have not joined,” and not a “To be regarded as a member of that church” (Thoreau 35).