The Importance Of Transcendentalism

In the 1800s, Ralph Waldo Emerson was a primary leader of the philosophical and literary movement known as Transcendentalism. Emerson stressed the importance of self-reliance, self-improvement, self-confidence, optimism, and freedom. Transcendentalism is all about finding yourself, isolating from society, and allowing nature to change your perspective. It’s about not conforming. Modern day music holds elements of Transcendentalism that are evident in multiple ways. I have written three songs that represent transcendentalism and in doing this I will explain: self-reliance, conformity, and the fact that everything is a reflection of the Over-Soul (God). One of the songs that I’ve chosen, which relates to transcendentalism’s self-reliance, is “I” by Kendrick Lamar.
“People killin’, people dyin’. Children hurt and you hear ‘em cryin’. Will you practice what you preach? And would you turn the other cheek? Father, father, father, help us. Send some guidance from above. These people got me, got me questionin’.” The band says that even though Americans preach peace, unity, and love our actions say otherwise. “Turn the other cheek” is a reference in the bible, which basically said if someone is treating you like trash, you shouldn’t treat them the same. Rather, you should be the better person and “turn the other cheek”; it proves the point on deserving the same respect as anyone. Emerson believed everything was a reflection of the Oversoul; he believed everyone was connected with one another through God and nature.“That Unity, that Over-soul, within which every man's particular being is contained and made one with all other; that common heart.” What this quote means is this: God allows for humanity to be united, things we experience isolated from one another daily. Emerson believed that no matter the religion, everyone believed in the same