First I would like us to work together to collaborate on definitions of some relevant terms. Please feel free to incorporate any words, phrases, or examples from the Emerson and Thoreau texts. Everyone should please include at least one edit.
Conformity-giving in to what other people want and do, being a follower, not a leader. not doing your own work.
Nonconformity- rebelling, standing up for what you believe in. doing your own thing. being a leader. Not living by the way society says you should but, instead by your own morals.
Individuality- being an individual, having your own opinions.
Society- big brother, the outside people. The ones that seem to have it all.
Individuals as examples
Next I would like you to research individuals throughout history that have been directly or indirectly influenced by the ideas of Emerson and Thoreau. Describe the individual and how you feel they are examples of individualistic, nonconformist ideals. Consider rebels, politicians, philosophers, and other types of leaders.
Paul Mellender
Most modern artists (if they use a traditional or classical style) use photos, models, or paint directly from something as a way of referencing their work. art schools often encourage or require the use of references. however, Mellender openly rejects using any type of reference, and believes in self-teaching. to many his work is incomprehensible in it's complexity and realism, and goes against most modern schools of art.
Rosa parks is an example of an individual that had a nonconformist idea. She is a rebel because she just sat on the bus in her sead until she was removed by the authority, she didnt care about the law all she cared about was what she believed and what was right. She did the right thing for all the people in the world. She was a truly astonishing individual.
James D. Morrison- Jim Morrison definitely defined his time by exemplifying, if not over-exemplifying, the ways of the nonconformist. He lived his life the way that he wanted to live it. A life full of fun times to be had, great dreams to be had, and a generation upon generation to follow. Mr. Mojo Risin in his prime was viewed as a cocky, arrogant SOB by the ones that didn't understand, the conformists, so to say; but by the ones who followed, he was a hero. I personally feel that Jim defined the term nonconformist to it's upmost extent. He believed in life, while the rest of the world was wrapped up in war. He believed in freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and openess of the like while the rest of the world were working as robots. Eating, drinking, talking, thinking, breathing, sleeping all the same. James Douglas Morrison was a saint to the world of nonconformists, he was Him, nothing more, nothing less. Martin Luther King Jr.- He was the leader with a dream. He gave the African American society a boost towards their individual rights. King Jr went above and beyond with his super-famous speech in Washington. White Americans were very racist, and him giving his speech definitly sturred up some commotion. Sadly, he was executed in his home that day. The things he said and did made an impact that lasted long after his death.
Malcom X:The black nationalist leader in the 1920s who advocated a "back-to-Africa" movement for African Americans. As Malcolm X, he was a charismatic advocate of black separatism who rejected Martin Luther King, Jr.'s policies of non-violence. By Malcolm X "When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his freedom." Malcom X was a man of violence and believe that he would do anything in order to get freedom even through violence.
Cultural Examples
I would like you now to identify a quote from one of the works of Thoreau or Emerson and identify an example from American culture that you feel exemplifies the point, observation, or aspiration expressed in that quote. Once someone else has included a quote, you need not retype it. Simply place your example beneath the prior connection.
"If you had the day to begin again,on that highway which was so wide and clear, you would not have varied your journey in any way: in this is your triumph" -Journey
-perhaps your goal in life is a family, steady job, and children. most people want this, and that's fine, but somewhere along the line you get bored in that walk of life and decide to detour, thinking maybe you'll settle down later and have fun now. you might not ever have a family, but in the end you're still satisfied with the descoveries and pleasant life experiences.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -Walden by Thoreau
At times, people look at noncomformists' ideas as too far-fetch. We should learn to respect their ideas, because maybe they are the only brave ones who will stand up for what they believe in.
Modern Works
This section will be the most wiki-ish. I am opening the door and asking everyone to contribute at least one edit to address the views of the contemporary authors. How would they address the words we first defined? Would they agree with the views of Thoreau and Emerson? What in their works lead you to believe they make these assertions? Also, please feel to address or find any connections to other works of art, music, literature or popular culture? If you find or use any information from other sites, please create a link to that site so others may view it.
Display of Mackerel
The Road Not Taken:(Heather) Robert Frost is a very descriptive poet who usually uses nature to describe his feelings and thoughts. In the Road Not Taken Frost describes the choice between two options (Two roads) in which are pathways that led to a diffrent path one in which you couldn't see the end of the road of either path. The narrator decided to take the more natural path because it looks like the prefect path with bright grasses. Each path looked as if it was traveled the same amount due to the amount of wear on the path, but the author decided to take the road less traveled which he deiscribed as the perfect path.
The traveler was not conforming and didn't take the path everyone else chose.
Journey
(Ferhat) The journey that he is really taking is the journey of his life. He can see where he's going and yet is still confused. This story talks about Oate's fear of being an outsider. The outsider is someone that is cut off from society an the human race. He is scared of not conforming, being alone, and different. (nat) However, at the end of the travel he is satisfied at not taking the highway (most travelled path of life), and feels reassured that given the choice, despite his fears and toils, he would still not conform.
Teenage Wasteland:(Heather) Teenage Wasteland is a very interesting read that grabs young readers attention. It tells about the average rebelious teenage child who believes that rebelling in life is the best way to get attention and answers. Throughout Teenage Wasteland the author clearly portrays a child "Donny" as a child who is lost within himself. His mother does not understand why he is acting the way he is and why he is failing to do his work and care about his grades. "Daisy" Donny's mother become very concerned about his failing to care attitude and approaches Donny about it. Donny says that his mother keeps pounding him down, but at the same time his mother disagrees saying that the only thing in which she is trying to do is to help him in all the ways she can because when she was a kid she had an unstable homelife and believe that if she ever had children she would never leave them feeling the way in which she did. Daisy believe that she needed to fix this feeling of selfloss and the rebelious attitude of her child. She believe that she would hire a tutor so that Donny would be able to succeed in school. She hired a man named Cal and believe that he would be able to help in fixing Donny's attitude and approach to studies and asked Donny to attend sessions with him three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When Donny attended these sessions he felt things in which he didn't feel at home. They played games and outside activites. While his social skills were becoming greater his academics were on a downfall once again. Donny's teacher contacted Daisy and said that he wasn't doing well in school and that he is failing once again. And on top of his failing they found beercans in his locker. Donny when confronted with this said it wasn't his fault and that he didn't have anything to do with it and he knew who did it but when Daisy asked him who it was he failed to metion there name and Daisy became more frusturated because her son was going to be expelled from high school. Daisy decided that she was going to move Donny to a new school so that he can experience new things and people. When he attended his first day he never retured home. The author of Teenage Wasteland would agree with Thoreau. He even quotes Thoreau when Cal and Daisy are speaking after Donny is expelled. Also because, when they finally make Donny conform and go to public school he finally just up and leaves. It seems as though the strictness of his parents before there is a problem cause Donny to act out. It seems like Daisy and Matts daughter will end up just like her brother because, she is constantly being neglected throughout the whole story.So when she is older she will misbehave for attention because, she is subliminally taught that is how you get attention from people, because Donny the delinquent gets all of the attention.
Defining our Topic
First I would like us to work together to collaborate on definitions of some relevant terms. Please feel free to incorporate any words, phrases, or examples from the Emerson and Thoreau texts. Everyone should please include at least one edit.
Conformity-giving in to what other people want and do, being a follower, not a leader. not doing your own work.
Nonconformity- rebelling, standing up for what you believe in. doing your own thing.
being a leader. Not living by the way society says you should but, instead by your own morals.
Individuality- being an individual, having your own opinions.
Society- big brother, the outside people. The ones that seem to have it all.
Individuals as examples
Next I would like you to research individuals throughout history that have been directly or indirectly influenced by the ideas of Emerson and Thoreau. Describe the individual and how you feel they are examples of individualistic, nonconformist ideals. Consider rebels, politicians, philosophers, and other types of leaders.
Paul Mellender
Most modern artists (if they use a traditional or classical style) use photos, models, or paint directly from something as a way of referencing their work. art schools often encourage or require the use of references. however, Mellender openly rejects using any type of reference, and believes in self-teaching. to many his work is incomprehensible in it's complexity and realism, and goes against most modern schools of art.
Rosa parks is an example of an individual that had a nonconformist idea. She is a rebel because she just sat on the bus in her sead until she was removed by the authority, she didnt care about the law all she cared about was what she believed and what was right. She did the right thing for all the people in the world. She was a truly astonishing individual.
James D. Morrison- Jim Morrison definitely defined his time by exemplifying, if not over-exemplifying, the ways of the nonconformist. He lived his life the way that he wanted to live it. A life full of fun times to be had, great dreams to be had, and a generation upon generation to follow. Mr. Mojo Risin in his prime was viewed as a cocky, arrogant SOB by the ones that didn't understand, the conformists, so to say; but by the ones who followed, he was a hero. I personally feel that Jim defined the term nonconformist to it's upmost extent. He believed in life, while the rest of the world was wrapped up in war. He believed in freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and openess of the like while the rest of the world were working as robots. Eating, drinking, talking, thinking, breathing, sleeping all the same. James Douglas Morrison was a saint to the world of nonconformists, he was Him, nothing more, nothing less.
Martin Luther King Jr.- He was the leader with a dream. He gave the African American society a boost towards their individual rights. King Jr went above and beyond with his super-famous speech in Washington. White Americans were very racist, and him giving his speech definitly sturred up some commotion. Sadly, he was executed in his home that day. The things he said and did made an impact that lasted long after his death.
Malcom X:The black nationalist leader in the 1920s who advocated a "back-to-Africa" movement for African Americans. As Malcolm X, he was a charismatic advocate of black separatism who rejected Martin Luther King, Jr.'s policies of non-violence. By Malcolm X
"When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his freedom." Malcom X was a man of violence and believe that he would do anything in order to get freedom even through violence.
Cultural Examples
I would like you now to identify a quote from one of the works of Thoreau or Emerson and identify an example from American culture that you feel exemplifies the point, observation, or aspiration expressed in that quote. Once someone else has included a quote, you need not retype it. Simply place your example beneath the prior connection."If you had the day to begin again,on that highway which was so wide and clear, you would not have varied your journey in any way: in this is your triumph" -Journey
-perhaps your goal in life is a family, steady job, and children. most people want this, and that's fine, but somewhere along the line you get bored in that walk of life and decide to detour, thinking maybe you'll settle down later and have fun now. you might not ever have a family, but in the end you're still satisfied with the descoveries and pleasant life experiences.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -Walden by Thoreau
At times, people look at noncomformists' ideas as too far-fetch. We should learn to respect their ideas, because maybe they are the only brave ones who will stand up for what they believe in.
Modern Works
This section will be the most wiki-ish. I am opening the door and asking everyone to contribute at least one edit to address the views of the contemporary authors. How would they address the words we first defined? Would they agree with the views of Thoreau and Emerson? What in their works lead you to believe they make these assertions? Also, please feel to address or find any connections to other works of art, music, literature or popular culture? If you find or use any information from other sites, please create a link to that site so others may view it.
Display of Mackerel
The Road Not Taken:(Heather) Robert Frost is a very descriptive poet who usually uses nature to describe his feelings and thoughts. In the Road Not Taken Frost describes the choice between two options (Two roads) in which are pathways that led to a diffrent path one in which you couldn't see the end of the road of either path. The narrator decided to take the more natural path because it looks like the prefect path with bright grasses. Each path looked as if it was traveled the same amount due to the amount of wear on the path, but the author decided to take the road less traveled which he deiscribed as the perfect path.
The traveler was not conforming and didn't take the path everyone else chose.
Journey
(Ferhat) The journey that he is really taking is the journey of his life. He can see where he's going and yet is still confused. This story talks about Oate's fear of being an outsider. The outsider is someone that is cut off from society an the human race. He is scared of not conforming, being alone, and different. (nat) However, at the end of the travel he is satisfied at not taking the highway (most travelled path of life), and feels reassured that given the choice, despite his fears and toils, he would still not conform.Teenage Wasteland:(Heather) Teenage Wasteland is a very interesting read that grabs young readers attention. It tells about the average rebelious teenage child who believes that rebelling in life is the best way to get attention and answers. Throughout Teenage Wasteland the author clearly portrays a child "Donny" as a child who is lost within himself. His mother does not understand why he is acting the way he is and why he is failing to do his work and care about his grades. "Daisy" Donny's mother become very concerned about his failing to care attitude and approaches Donny about it. Donny says that his mother keeps pounding him down, but at the same time his mother disagrees saying that the only thing in which she is trying to do is to help him in all the ways she can because when she was a kid she had an unstable homelife and believe that if she ever had children she would never leave them feeling the way in which she did. Daisy believe that she needed to fix this feeling of selfloss and the rebelious attitude of her child. She believe that she would hire a tutor so that Donny would be able to succeed in school. She hired a man named Cal and believe that he would be able to help in fixing Donny's attitude and approach to studies and asked Donny to attend sessions with him three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When Donny attended these sessions he felt things in which he didn't feel at home. They played games and outside activites. While his social skills were becoming greater his academics were on a downfall once again. Donny's teacher contacted Daisy and said that he wasn't doing well in school and that he is failing once again. And on top of his failing they found beercans in his locker. Donny when confronted with this said it wasn't his fault and that he didn't have anything to do with it and he knew who did it but when Daisy asked him who it was he failed to metion there name and Daisy became more frusturated because her son was going to be expelled from high school. Daisy decided that she was going to move Donny to a new school so that he can experience new things and people. When he attended his first day he never retured home. The author of Teenage Wasteland would agree with Thoreau. He even quotes Thoreau when Cal and Daisy are speaking after Donny is expelled. Also because, when they finally make Donny conform and go to public school he finally just up and leaves. It seems as though the strictness of his parents before there is a problem cause Donny to act out. It seems like Daisy and Matts daughter will end up just like her brother because, she is constantly being neglected throughout the whole story.So when she is older she will misbehave for attention because, she is subliminally taught that is how you get attention from people, because Donny the delinquent gets all of the attention.
Blibliography
Please copy and paste the links to any sites that you use to aid in the collection of information for this site.http://www.quotegarden.com/conformity.html. Sweet quotes about confomity and whatnot.
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=28952. Sweet Vid I thought was cool.
http://www.paulmellender.com/ paul mellander's website.involves paintings and noncomformity.