The Dead Poets Society Post

In the movie, The Dead Poets Society it invokes the principles of transcendentalism or nonconformity. The setting of the movie is at Welton, a very conservative, regimented and inflexible school. Mr. Keating arrives to teach his students “Carpe Diem” or how to seize each day and “suck the marrow out of life.” He has very nonconventional means in which he does the latter such as ripping out pages of text in books and standing on desks. He uses poetry to teach his students how to challenge the various issues surrounding them. He encourages brotherhood and civil disobedience. Mr. Keating is the epitome of self-reliance, non-conformity and revolt against the traditional institutions. However, Keating also warns or cautions his students that there is an appropriate time to rebel or to be daring. One needs to be wise and not stupid in the protest. Also, that change does not occur with one instance, but rather there must be forbearance. It is akin to a war with having to involve both offensive and defensive sides.

As a result of being over daring there are forces that occur which try to resist the change. If one is too forceful or doesn’t proceed cautiously and appropriately then there might be tragic consequences which could ensue. This is seen when Keating encourages Neil to act and informs him that he is acting by not confronting his father about his true feelings and desire to be an actor. When Neil lies to Keating and is unable to talk to his father, this leads to his committing suicide. Also, the character Charlie, or Nuwanda suffers consequences as a result of writing an article about admitting girls to Welton, as well as feigning a telephone call from God to Mr. Nolan. His last incident of the fight with Cameron ultimately gets him expelled when he stands up for what he believes in. By nonconforming as Mr. Keating exemplified he had to leave his teaching position at the school. However, there are probably more dangers or consequences that occur when one uses transcendentalism inappropriately or not cautiously. Although there were negative consequences seen, it also appears that Mr. Keating will still live on and perhaps result in some change for the boys in the future. He survived in their minds as ideas which can’t be expelled. This is seen as Todd has the nerve to stand on his desk and yell, “Captain, my captain.” This starts again a string of rebellious students doing the same as Mr. Nolan caves from the strength of the group. Thus, there are dangers that can result from nonconformity which are not all negative, but can sometimes result in positive change if undertaken appropriately, at the right time and with forbearance.

Transcendentalism Post

The transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau placed a higher belief in other forms of knowledge and valued nonconformity. They  emphasized the individual and his/her relationship with nature. This is also true of Gavin DeGraw who in his song, “I Don’t Want To Be” stresses the importance of nonconformity and being an individual.

Overall, his song encourages today’s youth not to feel pressured to have to conform to others thoughts and ideas, but rather, be their own person. For example, he states, “I don’t need to be anything other than a prison guard’s son/ I don’t need to be anything other than a specialist’s son” in which he tells the world that he doesn’t need to follow in his parents’ professions, but just know who his parents are.   Gavin also mentions in his hit “All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind.”  He gets peace through thinking and internal meditation.  Here, he tries to explain what it means to be an individual and how to act on moral and individual decisions.  Be who you are rather than follow your peers.  Embrace your own sense of identity. 

He goes on to say, “I don’t want to be anything other than me” which is another way he focuses upon individuality and what is best for him. He reveals that he has learned what it takes to be “me.” He will not do what others tell him to do or what others desire for him. It is his time to do what he wants. He expresses the desire to only be himself.

Also, he wants the world to know that they don’t have to go through an identity crisis and not be who they truly are supposed to be, “I’m surrounded by liars everywhere I turn/ I’m surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn/ Am I the only one who noticed?” DeGraw wants the world to be like him (non-conforming) and not confused with what beliefs society desires to impose upon them. He is a modern day transcendentalist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gFCW3PHBws&ob=av2e

http://www.hitcrave.com/tag/gavin-degraw-candy-lyrics.html

Walden Post

What started out as a two- year experiment for Thoreau at Walden Pond turned out to be a life changing experience.  Two years for some people to live simplistically may seem like an eternity.  Often, they may not survive without technology and all the amenities, which they have been exposed to previously.  The majority of people would feel that society is the best place to live.  However, Thoreau wanted to see for himself.  He embarked upon a journey in which he gained much knowledge and insight into life.  Thus, Thoreau’s two years at Walden Pond were more than a wasted experiment in frugality, but rather, an enriching life experience.

Thoreau learned the importance of nature through his two years at solitude.  Nature is the harmony to the world and the meaning to life.  Life is in its truest form in nature.  Thoreau realized that nature is teeming with beauty and life from the many animals he watched in the woods.  Sitting outside, enjoying a nice day, listening to the sounds of the birds, and feeling the flow of the wind helped him learn more about nature and to become one with it.  As Thoreau watched the animals it made him think of human warfare and fighting.  As fall changed to winter, he listened to the fox, rabbit, and squirrel as they gathered food for the cold winter.  As seasons changed, he would rather be with this nature and animals than amongst the wealthy and rich.  Thoreau became one with nature and appreciated all it gave him.

 

http://www.venuemag.net/Blogs/Its-a-Good-Life/Web-2011/View/

Not only was nature and solitude a rewarding experience, but Thoreau had much time to think. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts to 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” (Thoreau 490).  This is another valuable lesson that Thoreau learned which is to deliberate, to ponder, to think for a very long time. He was able to discern what is truly important in life. He came to the conclusion that it really wasn’t material things that mattered, but more so how to live life to its fullest.  Sometimes it is important to slow down and just appreciate and smell the roses.  He discerned that people were always in a hurry, which was only wasting true life.

http://www.outdoorbirdfeeders.com/bluebird.html

Nature and living life to its fullest is what Thoreau experienced in the woods.  The benefits of nature were to help him realize what the meaning of life was.  Seasons changing, sounds of animals and birds, and the flow of the wind became relaxing to him.  Not being a part of the human world was what Thoreau wanted.  He became one with nature and cherished all it gave him.  Being in the woods made Thoreau ponder on the meaning of life and its importance.  He realized that material items were not necessary. Thoreau took life in slowly and not in a hurry.  Thoreau’s life was not wasted at Walden Pond.

"The Thinker"

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