Transcendentalism today

Themes of Transcendentalism Nonconformity Simplicity Self reliance Importance of nature Importance of the individual Confidence

Into the Wild https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0_lp_PIYL0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwx3RvDWvDM (start at second half)

Transcendental Themes In music While Eddie Vedder created an entirely new soundtrack to accompany Into the Wild, there are many popular songs already out there that also express transcendental themes. Can you identify any artists or songs who speak about: Being yourself Not conforming Nature Simplicity …other transcendent themes?

Wide open Spaces: The Dixie Chicks She travelled this road as a child Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired But now she won't be coming back with the rest If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test She needs wide open spaces Room to make her big mistakes She needs new faces She knows the high stakes

My way: Frank Sinatra For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught The right to say the things he feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Your Assignment 1. Find a song or movie clip that demonstrates themes of transcendentalism 2. Prepare a very brief presentation (4 minutes max) that does the following: Expose: Play a snippet of the song/clip for your classmates Question: Lead a discussion amongst your peers about where they see transcendental themes expressed. Encourage them to cite specific lyrics, and tie it back to the transcendental reading we have done. You are to lead the discussion, NOT lecture! Tie it all together: This is where YOU present your analysis of the song or the clip, and directly relate it to a quote from either Self-Reliance or Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson, quotes from Thoreau, or passages from Chris McCandless from Into the Wild.

SHAKE It OFF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-kiV3UbxZY I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own) I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go) And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm That's what they don't know, mmm-mmm But I keep cruising Can't stop, won't stop grooving It's like I got this music In my mind Saying, "It's gonna be alright." 'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism…” –Into the Wild (p. 56) “The fault-finder finds faults even in paradise.” -Walden, by Henry David Thoreau Expresses transcendental themes of: Nonconformity Self-confidence

Other notes Songs/movie clips will be selected on Wednesday! Each student must select a different song or movie; first come first served in terms of signing up! We will work in the lab on Wednesday. Presentations will occur in random order beginning Friday and continuing next week until we get through everyone! If you are traveling next week, you MUST present before you leave!

REQUIREMENTS 1 slide with animations Link to song if youtube (can also hook up your phone to speakers and play from ipod) Excerpt of song lyrics Excerpt from Emerson, Thoreau, or Into the Wild Transcendental Themes expressed