Transcendentalism

 Introduction :-

Transcendentalists saw divine experience inherent in the everyday, rather than believing in a distant heaven. Transcendentalists saw physical and spiritual phenomena as part of dynamic processes rather than discrete entities.

In today's era, there is an especially strong transcendental presence in the world of media. Four examples that accurately portray Transdentdentalism are; the films Forrest Gump, Wreck-It Ralph and The Lorax. Also the song Beautiful day by U2.

Themes of Transcendentalism:-

 There are 5 themes common in works of transcendentalism. They are Nonconformity, Self-Reliance, Freethought, Confidence, and Importance of Nature. These themes are seen in many of the writings of several famous authors of this time. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are two authors important to this period.

What is transcendentalism in film?

Unlike the style of psychological realism, which dominates film, the transcendental style expresses a spiritual state by means of austere camerawork, acting devoid of self-consciousness, and editing that avoids editorial comment.

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”

 - Self Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson

      

The movie Moana was created in 2016 by Disney creators Ron Clements and John Musker shows the first princess who is strong, independent and the biggest turn of all which shocked the crowed was no prince. She shows the population that she can fix the problem even if her mentor maui is not going to her. In the movie, the struggle can be seen by showing her worth to herself and other, when Maui gives up Moana makes a plan on her own to stop her island from dying. Throughout the movie she states " I am Moana", it shows us a viewers the internal battle she goes through in trying to prove to her self she can do this and be self reliant. This compares to the quote above beacuse both state how trusting their selfs is the best way as long as they never give up and try again.

Moana cannot be commpared to the works of Emerson and his impact in his time when showing what self reliance was but she had given a huge influence showing young girls how one can do something themselves. The message that she gives in her movie is clear and that is to be smart on trusting youself. never put trust in others because they can break it.

In the movie, Moana breaks many biases about having a prince to succed in things which was a huge deal for Disney viewers not to see a prince. She is mostly self reliant especially when Maui does not have any faith in her. People argue that she does have a relationship in the movie but are silenced because they did not show any affecionate to one another. this was a hiuge movie and a success in the harts because of many of the reviews which said good things and how id breaking barriers in their movies.

"Moana" embodies Transcendentalism by emphasizing the importance of individualism, connection to nature, and spiritual discovery. The film tells the story of a young girl named Moana who is chosen by the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, a goddess who brings life to the islands. Moana sets out on a journey to find Maui, a demigod who can help her restore the heart and save her people.

Throughout the movie, Moana embraces her individuality and follows her own path, despite the expectations of her parents and community. She also has a deep connection to the ocean and the natural world, and seeks to restore balance and harmony to her island home.

The film also explores spiritual themes, as Moana grapples with her destiny and seeks to understand her connection to the gods and goddesses of her people.

One example of this is the film's emphasis on the importance of self-reliance and independence. The main character, Moana, is determined to save her island and people, and she sets out on her own to do so. She relies on her own intuition and abilities, rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem. This reflects the transcendentalist belief in the importance of trusting oneself and relying on one's own inner voice.

Another example is the film's portrayal of the relationship between humans and nature. Moana has a deep connection with the ocean and respects its power and importance. This connection reflects the transcendentalist belief in the importance of nature and the interconnectedness of all things.

Conclusion : -

Overall, "Moana" embodies the ideals of Transcendentalism by encouraging viewers to embrace their individuality, connect with nature, and pursue spiritual discovery. The movie's themes of self-discovery, connection to the natural world, and the pursuit of spiritual truth are all hallmarks of Transcendentalist philosophy.