Preview

Transcendentalism in modern music

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1123 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Transcendentalism in modern music
Transcendentalism in modern music

Transcendentalism influenced the 19th century and emphasized on the value of the individual and intuition. It was an idea that people were at their best when they we self reliant and independent. Ralph Waldo Emerson was the movements most important figure along with his main follower Henry David Thoreau. These two people were the most influential people during this movement. Transcendentalism was all about being an individual and it still endures today in modern culture. It is particularly evident in modern music. Modern music expresses individuality and the idea of being something other than the majority. One artist that expresses individuality is Eminem, a rapper that is known for being different and a pure individual. In the song "Not Afraid" by rapper Eminem, the lyrics tell us how he is not afraid to be different and that he is not afraid to take a stand to be a better person. In the song he says "starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage." The cage is the social norm that keeps people from being individuals. By breaking out of this "cage" Eminem is being his own person and being an individual. In another one of Eminem's song he excepts that he's different from everyone. He embraces his individuality. In the song "Legacy" he says "Now I think the fact that I'm differently wired's awesome cause if I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to work words like this and connect lines like crosswords." His success was a result of his individuality. He says that he's differently wired and that's why he's so good at rapping. He is known as one of the best rappers of all time. This status wasn't achieved by being just like all the other rappers, he's different and his lyrics are different as well. Eminem worked extremely hard to become this great rapper and his song "Lose Your Self" certainly shows how important music was to him. In the song it says "You better lose yourself in the music, the moment-You own it, you better never

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    swiggity

    • 1036 Words
    • 4 Pages

    3. The Transcendentalists stood at the heart of The American Renaissance-- the flowering of our nation's thought in literature, Poetry, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Music in the period roughly designated from 1835-1880.…

    • 1036 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In order to discuss a topic, one must know what said topic is. Transcendentalism is a movement in the nineteenth century and it encourages the idea of individualism, dislike for materialism, a strong connection to nature, and to rely on one’s intuition above all else. This belief and the well-educated people who followed it were decades ahead of their time, as it was for self-independence and was against slavery. These philosophies are established in the story.…

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    throughout the 1836-1860’s the transcendentalist movement swept across the unites states nation bringing the idea of finding truth through ways of nature and individualism which was strongly influenced by ralph waldo emerson. Emerson was a great philosopher who expressed his ideas and beliefs through his writings like his essay “Self- Reliance”. Self-Reliance discusses the issue of people following the majority and not thinking for themselves as an individual even if others don’t believe the same as you. Emerson calls for a reform asking for independents to think for themselves, and to stay true to your…

    • 96 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Individuality, this word is what makes a person who they are. It can be molded into whatever one chooses it to be. It also puts you in control of yourself and guides you through your existence. Being individualized is what makes us human. We are not all the same. In the novel “Anthem” by Ayn Rand, the thought of individuality is a constant theme throughout the book. The main character, Equality, believes he is cursed by being an individual, at first. Many similarities can be found between the novel “Anthem” and the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley.…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson are considered two of the most influential and moving transcendentalist writers of their time. These two transcendentalist authors celebrated the divine equality of each individual in their work. Their beliefs opposed the trendy materialist views on life and expressed the eagerness for freedom of the individual from fabricated restraints. Both authors thoroughly studied and embraced nature, as well as encouraged individualism and nonconformity.…

    • 70 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The era of Transcendentalism was a time period when people had certain ideas about life like living life simply and protesting peacefully. Transcendentalists also believed that people should be worried about the nature that gives us oxygen and that's why we are living. The songs that involved in transcendentalism is going to be Me, Myself, and I by G-Eazy and Rexha Bebe and Don't worry, be happy by Bobby McFerrin. Transcendentalists believed in self reliance and that nature can make you feel happy and that people should appreciate nature and live simply. Also G-Eazy and X Bebe Rexha made this song called Me,Myself, I and its all about self reliance and relying on yourself. And the other one is Don't worried , be happy by Bobby Mcferrin and…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I believe Chris McCandless enjoyed the idea of transcendentalism. This is a philosophy that says; thought/spiritual things are more real than human experiences. This is shown throughout the book, Into the Wild, based off of his wanting to be away from society.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Individuality, ‘the quality of a character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked’. Maintaining individuality and standing out from everyone else has always been difficult. Not just today, in the 21st century, but throughout history. Often the pressures faced from society and the fear of being cast as an outsider can cause one to conform to society and give in. This is apparent in the book ‘Brave New World’ and it has also been shown over many years in the past. All people, from celebrities to everyday people, the struggle that is to maintain ones individuality has always existed.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Finally individualism is shown in a romantic form in Emerson self reliance. Emerson believes that the individual can achieve whatever it wants.”“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I found the quote by the musician Yo-Yo-Ma very interesting because I cannot only relate to it but I think I fully understand it. I chose this quote because it is based around music and that makes me understand it better. Yo-Yo-Ma is also a famous American musician witch I have heard of before. In the quote, he compares different types of music with different type of people. That everyone has their own type of music with different rhythm, life, language and heritage and that you need to learn how to be more open and adaptive to the world around us .…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    All things considered, the Transcendentalist Movement was a literary period that was quite influential because of the new perspectives it offered people to ponder upon. People were encouraged to think for themselves, instead of just accepting what society expected of…

    • 2222 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Transcendentalism Today

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Transcendentalism is a societal movement that focuses around the conscious and purity. The world today is a completely different place than it was during the transcendental era. Society today has smartphones, airplanes, and quantum computers, all of which actually go against transcendentalist beliefs. Despite its age, the transcendentalist values still affect society today. Through growing environmental awareness, self reliance, and the optimistic outlook people have today, transcendentalism can still be seen in today’s society.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Transcendentalism blossomed in the U.S. around the 1800's. The "Father of Transcendentalism" was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Him and other believers spread their thoughts by writing essays. These essays were focused on different topics of transcendentalism, like self-reliance. Transcendentalists strongly believed in self-reliance and that self-reliance brings happiness.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although Transcendentalism as a historical movement was limited in time from the mid 1830s to the late 1840s and in space to eastern Massachusetts, its ripples continue to spread through American culture. Beginning as a quarrel within the Unitarian church, Transcendentalism's questioning of established cultural forms, its urge to reintegrate spirit and matter, its desire to turn ideas into concrete action developed a momentum of its own, spreading from the spheres of religion and education to literature, philosophy, and social reform. While Transcendentalism's ambivalence about any communal effort that would compromise individual integrity prevented it from creating lasting institutions, it helped set the terms for being an intellectual in…

    • 3393 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I sit myself under a tree. Its bare skin is rough compared to the flowing wild grass. The lake in front of me ripples and glistens under the crimson sun. Closing my eyes, I allow the cold and sharp wind to envelope me. After awhile I lose all thought. I am now acutely aware of a scratching sound. Opening my eyes, my gaze sets upon a squirrel scaling the tree. Looking up, I notice its branches are devoid of leaves from winter’s touch. The tree’s lifeless and almost sickly state helps me capture the attention of flowers growing near it. I walk over. The vermilion petals and jade leaves are spouting from coarse earth. I pluck one flower and take it with me, pressing it gently against the tree’s firm trunk. Here is the tree, so much bigger and stronger than a soft and minuscule flower. Yet the tree has surrendered to the iciness while the flower grows, undisturbed by frigid conditions. I realize then that the tree and flower are like humans. No one grows and flourishes in the same way. Some people accomplish in large and grandiose ways. Others achieve in small steps. Humans, like a plant’s growth is suppressed by weather, are bound by our own individualistic approaches and personality. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “imitation is suicide.” Society sets a standard to which members of our community feel obliged to meet for a variety of reasons. These standards are almost a subconscious guideline that pushes us to imitate those around us. Often, we are caught up trying to emulate those we admire that we forget ourselves. Personally, I set my goals to what others expect of me and try to meet them in ways they find accepting. Comparing the flower and tree allows to me to understand that is not the right option. I am the flower. I cannot ever be as big or strong as a tree but I can succeed in my own…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays