By Bosephus farthingale Advance and Retreat By Bosephus farthingale

What makes us American? We value technological innovation and progress… …but that progress does not always come without a cultural cost.

Technological advancements in american history Cotton Gin 1793 Increasing demand for slave labor in the South

Technological advancements in American history Winchester repeating rifle 1873 Destruction of Sioux tribes of the Great Plains

Technological advancements in American history Advent of Youtube 2005 We all get to be famous!

The backlash As technology has advanced, American writers have pondered the toll this progress has taken on our social, emotional, and spiritual health.

The transcendentalist response Mid-19th century Transcendentalist writers ask: Is technology a blessing or a curse? Does innovation make us better humans? Advocate self-reflection

Ralph waldo emerson 1803-1882 “Father of American Transcendentalism” Founded the Transcendentalist Club Key writers: Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Amos Bronson Alcott

Key tenets of transcendentalism Understanding nature brings us closer to God Since we are part of God, we are divine Human beings are born pure, but society corrupts us We must look inward to understand the truth, not let religion or society tell us what is right and wrong

Emerson advocates a return to nature “[In Nature] I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God” (Nature). In Nature, humans can come to understand their oneness with God By withdrawing from the commercial, sensory world, humans can get rid of the self-centeredness that distracts them from the divine

How do we become truly self-reliant? Become a transparent eyeball! In nature, you can see all… …but no one can see you!

Henry david thoreau 1817-1862 Disciple of Emerson Abandoned his family’s expectations and became a transcendentalist Lived in a cabin on Walden Pond for two years

Walden: or, life in the woods Retreat from the world in order to “suck the marrow of life” An experiment in self-reliance Walden is a record of Thoreau’s thoughts during the two years he stayed there

Thoreau’s quest for transcendence “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (Walden). Only by leaving behind the distractions of modern life can we truly discover a more transcendent experience We do not benefit from technology; we are enslaved by it

Do we control technology, or does it control us? “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides on us.” --Henry David Thoreau The building of the transcontinental railroad… …required the exploitation of black and Chinese laborers.

Michael Pollan 1955- American writer, journalist, and activist Writes about the damage industrialization causes to the human psyche Focus on food as our connection to the natural world

Pollan warns against “industrial eating” He wants Americans to eat “by the grace of nature, not industry” (The Omnivore’s Dilemma). The way we eat represents our most profound connection to the natural world Industrial eating obscures our understanding of the relationship between humans and the environment By growing and preparing as much of our own food as possible, we can return to a more responsible and spiritually conscious way of life

Industrial eating vs. ethical eating If we don’t know where our food comes from… …we’re less tied to the natural world.

Technology and the american experience today It is still possible to reflect on and change the ways we allow technology to interfere with truly living Our identity, as Americans, involves valuing innovation and progress We shouldn’t accept progress without questioning the social cost

Questions to consider How much does our dependence on screens shield us from true connections with ourselves, each other, and the world around us? Do we control our technology, or does it control us? Should we follow Thoreau’s advice and…