Transcendentalism Today

Ideas of Transcendentalism Nonconformity Simplicity Self reliance Importance of nature Importance of the individual Confidence

Transcendental Ideas in Music There are many popular songs that express transcendental themes. Can you identify any artists or songs who speak about: Being yourself Not conforming Nature Simplicity

“Wide Open Spaces”: The Dixie Chicks She travelled this road as a child Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired But now she won't be coming back with the rest If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test She needs wide open spaces Room to make her big mistakes She needs new faces She knows the high stakes

“My Way”: Frank Sinatra For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught The right to say the things he feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Your Assignment 1. Find a song that demonstrates themes of transcendentalism 2. Prepare a brief presentation (4 mins): Expose: Play a snippet of the song (2 minutes). PowerPoint: Create a PowerPoint presentation that includes specific lyrics from the song that you want to point out. Present your analysis of the song by explaining how the specific lyrics connect to transcendental beliefs. You also need to directly relate the song to a quote from Self- Reliance, Walden, or passages from Into the Wild. You will need to explain how the quote connects to specific lyrics.

Grading You will be graded on: Total: 60 Points Your incorporation of the song Neatness Grammar/Spelling Speaking ability Eye contact Connection/Explanation to transcendental beliefs Connection/Explanation to passage Total: 60 Points

“Say”: John Mayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JONA_6ZCrE Have no fear For giving in Have no fear For giving over You better know that in the end It's better to say too much Then never to say what you need to say again Even if your hands are shaking And your faith is broken Even as the eyes are closing Do it with a heart wide open... wide... “Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again” (Emerson).

Other Notes Songs need to be selected by May 5th. Songs must be school appropriate. There are some examples on my website. Each student must select a different song; first come first served in terms of signing up! If you are absent, you must email me your choice for approval! We will work on Chromebooks in class on Monday and Tuesday. Presentations will occur in random order beginning Thursday and continuing until we get through everyone!

Transcendentalism Today Choose song by May 5th Find a snippet/audio of the song no more than 2 minutes Presentation around 4 minutes Includes specific lyrics Explain how the lyrics connect to transcendental beliefs Quote from Self-Reliance, Walden, or Into the Wild Explain how the quote connects to the lyrics