Art #2

          This piece of artwork depicts the transcendentalist appreciation of nature.  In Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay entitled "Nature", he says, "I find something more dear and connate [in nature] than in streets or villages."  This piece captures the beauty of nature in many ways, from the depiction of the bright blue sky, to the detail of the leaves, but the thing that sets this piece apart from others is the medium on which it was created.  The use of a tree stump as a canvas conveys the idea that nature contains beauty in and of itself, and needs only to be revealed by man in order to be appreciated.

Art #1

          "Yet it is certain that the power to produce this delight, does not reside in nature, but in man, or in a harmony of both."  Ralph Waldo Emerson uses this idea in his essay "Nature".  This artwork encapsulates this idea in a beautiful and enchanting way.  The slurring and flowing stars, the gaseous masses, and the wonderful use of color all work together to create the figment of a human skull, which demonstrates that nature is made beautiful by man.  The harmony of man and nature proposed by Emerson is further validated by the stunning beauty of this piece of art.

Song #3

          Pearl Jam's "Infallible" displays the transcendentalist value of free and critical thought.  The line, "By thinking we're infallible, oh we are tempting fate instead," explains that if people do not question themselves and the authorities of any given subject, that they are giving up control of their lives in order to maintain a sense of safety.  In Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self Reliance", he says "We shall not always set so great a price on a few texts, on a few lives,"  this shows that transcendentalists value thinking for oneself, and critically analyzing information that is presented.

Song #2

          "Let my spirit rise, without replies".  This line perfectly demonstrates the purpose of the song Set Me Free by Dead Indian, which is to show the transcendentalist idea that the individuality of all people needs to be embraced rather than being criticized.  The musical accompaniment also serves the purpose by maintaining an almost soothing beat and rhythm while the vocalist sings about his experiences, and gets more and more intense as the behaviors of the people around him become more negative.  This connects to Walden by Henry David Thoreau, speaking of how people live their lives, he says, "This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one centre."  This shows the transcendentalist value of the uniqueness of individuals has been carried forward through generations and manifests itself in the art of today, in ways that many may not even realize.

Song #1

      This song by Shinedown displays the transcendentalist value of individuality.  The line "Decide which voice in your head you can keep alive" shows the struggle that people go through when they're faced with being their own individual unique person, or simply going along with what is expected and normal.  Henry David Thoreau says, "There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but philosophers.  Yet it is admirable to profess because it was once admirable to live.", showing the values that transcendentalists held regarding individuals, and how they should not just preach and talk about how to live life, but should actually take the initiative to live their own lives in the ways that are merely talked about.  The line "I dare you to tell me to walk through fire" capture this sentiment effectively, by saying that society should not impose sets of standards upon individuals if they themselves are not willing to follow them.