We've been covering transcendentalism in English, and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I can definitely relate to and agree with some of their values -- I personally hold nature in high regard, and after the nature project last year, I often find myself going on walks or strolling in the park when I feel the need to relax or reconnect with myself. On the other hand, something about these type of "theoretical" movements annoys me. Honestly, you can preach as much as you want about the iron string connecting all of humanity or how you should live in union with nature, but no one's going to actually ditch civilization to go build their own log cabin in the middle of the woods to live in for the rest of their lives. It's just not practical. But if I had to describe transcendentalism, I would call it a movement towards nature and away from human-made establishments.
I don't really understand why it specifically asks how I'd explain it to a stranger; I'd probably just use the same definition as above. But if I had to, I'd call it a religious or philosophical movement centered around a return to nature and throw in that story about Thoreau's one night in jail too. :) And for my parents... I'd just say, "You know hippies? So imagine them, but in the 1820s."
One thing I've noticed about transcendentalism is that even though some parts of it are pretty unrealistic, you can still see its influences today. I saw this in one of my favorite movies of all time (that also ripped out my heart and shredded it into a million little pieces), Bridge to Terabithia. (The book is also hellllla good. 10/10 would recommend.)
I don't really understand why it specifically asks how I'd explain it to a stranger; I'd probably just use the same definition as above. But if I had to, I'd call it a religious or philosophical movement centered around a return to nature and throw in that story about Thoreau's one night in jail too. :) And for my parents... I'd just say, "You know hippies? So imagine them, but in the 1820s."
One thing I've noticed about transcendentalism is that even though some parts of it are pretty unrealistic, you can still see its influences today. I saw this in one of my favorite movies of all time (that also ripped out my heart and shredded it into a million little pieces), Bridge to Terabithia. (The book is also hellllla good. 10/10 would recommend.)
A lot of the movie is about these two kids who go play in the forest and become best friends. This reminds me of transcendentalism because nature is where the two main characters really find themselves and discover who they are. This is a great reflection of transcendentalism because that's really what it's all about! Thoreau and Emerson and all of them taught that people should spend time in nature, away from the hassles and limitations of society. Nature is where people feel free to be themselves.