Definition of culture. : the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time..
The Transcendentalism Movement An Introduction Cultural Influences Primarily emerging in the 1830s, Transcendentalism developed in a time of American nationalism and industrialism. After the War of 1812, where Americans completely escaped from the British control, there was the push for more creativity in every area of American culture...to develop our own American culture. On the other hand there was a tremendous increase in industrialism from factories to mills. This was the complete opposite of Transcendental beliefs since it destroyed self-reliance, disregarded nature's importance and diminished the superiority of the individual compared to government. Progressive Causes With this new feeling of freedom, not only did transcendentalism emerge but also the Second Great Awakening, new American Literature, Abolitionism, and the fight for equality for women. Transcendentalists supported both women rights and abolition because they believed in importance of the individual above government and believed that all people were divine so women and African Americans deserved this equality.
Themes of Transcendentalism Nonconformity Simplicity Self reliance Importance of nature Importance of the individual
The Second Great Awakening was a revival of strong religious feelings that began in the 1790 s and lasted until the 1840 s Led mostly by Baptist and Methodist preachers Mass meetings, usually outdoor, were held to discuss faith and religion Religious faith led to helping others and social reform of society Emphasized the ability of each person to achieve salvation and forgiveness by doing good works - this encouraged many people to work to improve society ( build heaven on earth ) It was also during this time that preaching inspired many people to actively oppose slavery
Ralph Waldo Emerson, a former minister, was at the center of the movement. His book, Nature inspired future writers. The dominant theme of Nature the harmony between humans and nature. Emerson added to the spirit of reform in the U.S. by urging people to question society s rules and institutions Do not conform to others expectations, if you want to find God and your true self look to nature and the God within Transcendentalists supported individualism & nonconformity. They believed in a simplified life and trusted their inner feelings and emotions.
American writers stressed imagination, emotion and nature. They also dealt with American issues. The emerging national spirit made this period a Golden Age of literature and art Many of Emily Dickinson s poems deal with themes of death and immortality Noah Webster s Dictionary gave American spellings and slang words not British language Nathaniel Hawthorne s Scarlett Letter focused on American Puritan ideals. Edgar Allan Poe wrote terrifying horror and detective stories
Herman Melville wrote about adventure in his tale called Moby Dick Washington Irving wrote about American Culture in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle James Fenimore Cooper authored The Last of The Mohicans
Emerson s friend, Henry David Thoreau, lived Emerson s Transcendentalist principles he believed in the importance of individualism and simplicity. Because he believed this, he urged people not to obey laws they considered unjust (civil disobedience) Civil disobedience peacefully disobeying a law, instead of using violence. Thoreau refused to pay taxes to the U.S. Gov t. which he said enforced slavery and wrongfully went to war with Mexico (he spent time in jail for this) What did he do for transcendentalism and America? Thoreau is most commonly know for his two famous works "Civil Disobedience" and Walden. "Civil Disobedience" is an essay by Thoreau that encourages resistance to injustices of government. His belief is that people only should do what they feel is right because individuals are more important than government. This concept is a major inspiration for Gandhi and Martin Luther King (Civil Rights Movement leaders)
Thoreau, continued Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity 1845 - Walden was inspired by his journal written about his two year stay in a small cabin in the woods by the Walden pond by Concord, Massachusetts. Here, he experienced the fullness of nature, lived the simplest of lives and for the most part was isolated from society. Simplicity, nature, and self reliance are some of the key transcendental ideas and through this piece, Thoreau influences the belief of Americans far beyond his time. I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die, Discover that I had not lived. This quote from Walden is a direct example of how Thoreau wished to live his life. He wanted to "live deliberately" which is to live with intention and meaning. He used the vivid imagery of sucking out the marrow of life to emphasize his idea of living life to its fullest with no limit and absorbing every vital part life had to offer him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d JpmflZz4_U
Phil Robertson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvb31lqn7zc Interestingly, The Robertson men from A&E s Duck Dynasty are examples of modern Transcendentalists and often echo the sentiments of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, leaders of America s Transcendental movement.
Duck Dynasty Matching Match the following Robertson quotes to the 1800 s quote that shares the same message 1. Work hard. Nap hard. Hey, that s what I always say, Jack. - Uncle Si. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsuaxytj YCg 2. Hey, haters gonna hate you every time. Uncle Si 3. America, everybody is in too big a rush. Lay back, take a sip of tea, mow a little grass. Then if you get tired, take a nap Uncle Si 4. There is a bearded man burning leaves in his front yard what are we going to do? Jase Robertson 5. If you re too busy to hunt, then you re too busy Jase Robertson a. The fault finder will find faults even in paradise. Walden, Henry David Thoreau b. What I must do is all that concerns me, not what people think Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson c. Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life? Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so they take a thousand stitches today to save nine tomorrow. Walden, Henry David Thoreau d. Live your life. Do your work. Then take your hat Conscience, Henry David Thoreau e. Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity. Simplicity. Simplicity! - Walden, Henry David Thoreau
Example of Transcendentalism in Modern Culture Into The Wild Movie Trailer Sean Penn, the director of the film, adds cinematic effects to make the film even more in touch with its Transcendental roots The Nature Effect: Penn includes a sufficient amount of shots of the environment because nature is such an important role in Transcendentalism (mountains, the horses, the beach and practically all the environments he was around). Music: He includes several songs like "Society" which reject materialistic views but embrace transcendental values that add to one of the main themes of the film.
Into the Wild is a film that was made in 2007 telling the story of a young college graduate, Christopher McCandless, who journeys through woods and rapids mostly alone to discover himself and escape the conformity from the society he lives in. Chris McCandless: is a prime demonstration of modern transcendental ideas in the movie. Non-Conformity: The fact that he takes this journey by himself rather than continuing to go to school or find a job like most graduates do, shows that he resists society's expectations and ambitiously pursues this self discovering venture instead. Self Reliance: In the movie, he doesn't accept his parents' money, he hunts and prepares food all by himself, and he takes care of himself without any help from any others. He performs every action independently which is an effective illustration of self-reliance. Simplistic Lifestyle: Simplicity is exemplified throughout this character from the material free journey itself to his direct words. McCandless twists Thoreau's words of "Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity" with his own negative approach at the society he lives in because it is revolved around, "Things, Things, Things (Into the Wild).
Example of Transcendentalism in Modern Culture See what happened to McCandless
What do think of when you look at this painting? What do you hear? Smell? Feel? The Hudson River School became famous for painting nature and landscapes The school was founded by artist Thomas Cole in 1825 who was inspired by the natural beauty of New York s Hudson River Valley
Instead of just using nature as a backdrop for history, their paintings showed the power and beauty of nature, often making humans insignificant. Art from this period played a significant role in helping change America s view of nature and may have encouraged further Western expansion. Why? How might this picture motivate one to move west?
The Savage State
The Arcadian (innocent; simple) or Pastoral(countryside)State
The Consummation(finished) of Empire
Destruction
Desolation(barren; wasteland)
The Savage State Thomas Cole: The Course of Empire 1833-1836 The Arcadian or Pastoral State The Consummation of Empire Destruction Desolation http://www.explorethomascole.org/tour/items/69/series/ The Course of Empire is a five-part series of paintings created by Thomas Cole in the years 1833 36. It is notable in part for reflecting popular American sentiments of the times, when many saw pastoralism (agricultural lifestyle) as the ideal phase of human civilization, fearing that empire would lead to gluttony and inevitable decay. The series of paintings depicts the growth and fall of an imaginary city, situated on the lower end of a river valley, near its meeting with a bay of the sea. The valley is distinctly identifiable in each of the paintings, in part because of an unusual landmark: a large boulder is precariously situated atop a cliff overlooking the valley.
American artist John James Audubon painted birds and other animals in nature His Birds of America contained over 1,065 descriptions of birds, and is considered the most important work ever done on birds.