The Important Role of Transcendentalism in American History Essay

The Important Role of Transcendentalism in American History In 1830, a movement known as Transcendentalism began to gainpopularity in America. Representing an idealistic system of thought,strength, courage, self-confidence, and independence of mind1 were somebasic value admired by the followers of the Transcendental movement.Transcendentalists opposed many aspects of their government, where theyfelt many unjust laws existed.2 Therefore, they became the leaders ofmany modern reform movements. Transcendentalists too had a major affecton their society. Transcendentalism became a powerful force fordemocracy.3 Originating in the area in and around Concord, Massachusettes,Transcendentalism was accepted as having an underlying relationship tothe Romantic movement as a whole.4 Three of the approximately obvious or wellknown sources or origin of Transcendentalism are neo-platonism, Germanidealistic philosophy, and certain Eastern mystical writings which wereintroduced into the Boston area in the early nineteenth century.5 Transcendental beliefs focused on the importance of spirit overmatter.6 Ralph Waldo Emerson, a well known Transcendentalist, felt thatall men aspire to the highest, and most of them spend their lives seekingmoney and power only because they see nothing higher.7 Followers alsobelieved in a spiritual hunger, or the sine qua non to find themselves one with theworld. In addition, they believed in an ascending hierarchy of spiritualvalues rising to absolute good, truth, and beauty.8 Transcendentalistsalso believed in a sovereign being, the Oversoul, and felt that if theOversoul is all powerful and at the same eon good, then evil does notexist.9... ...reconciled few of them.19It was never united by a set program. Transcendentalism was comprised ofthe various interests and labors of many different personal concepts.Therefore, there were many conflicting values which made it an unsteadysystem to follow. At the time of the Trans cendentalism movement, it preached, practiced,an idealism that was greatly needed in a rapidly expanding economy.20 However, soon people began to find other, more comprehensible means of relations within society. Therefore, they began to turn away fromTranscendentalism. However, even though Transcendentalism is non-existentas a whole today, many of its ideas, values, and morals are still presentin many of the religions and beliefs of todays society. In conclusion,Transcendentalism will always be present in the world, it just will nothave as obvious a presence.

Ray Harryhausen :: essays research papers

Ray Harryhausen is the greatest artist in stop-motion animation. With a career that spans 40 stratums of cinema, he became a by-word for innovation, excitement and entertainment in the world of special effects and film fantasy.Born 1920 in Los Angelas, Harryhausen from an early age was facinated with stop-motion animation due to seeing pouf Komg at the agee of thirteen. Ray Harryhausen was given an opertunity to persue a dream and learn from the greatest of animators, Willis OBrien. American Film magazine, (June 1981 p 49) I had a magnicficent two year period while working on Mighty Joe Young with Obie, covering the long perproduction and photography. He was so involved in production problems that I terminate up animating about eighty-five percent og the picture.After ganing vital experience with Willis oBrien and having completed studies at the University of Southern California in painting, drama, sculpting, anatomy and photography. Ray Harryhausen produced a series of short fil ms called Mother Goose Fairy Tales. Coming to the final phase of the series, Ray Harryhausen was approached by a fresh producer, Charles Schneer,and formed a productive patnership which lasted over thrity years. Ray Harryhausen and Charles Schneer went to work and produced a whole series during the science fiction boom of the 1950s. Titles included It Came from Beneath the Sea, creation versus the Flying Saucers and in 1957, Twenty Million Miles to Earth.It was also in this period that Ray Harryhausen pioneered his new form of stop-motion animation Dynamation which then became a key possess consistant through out all of his work.Breaking away from the 1950s had Ray Harryhausen and Charles Schneer leaving science fiction behind and venture into the world of fantasy, fairy statement amd mythology.. in the decaide of 1950 to 1960, they both produced the highly acclaimed Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. This was also theyre first opportunity to use colour film.In 1963, Ray Harryhausen pr oduced his most famous and successful film Jason and the Argonants. Quoted by Adrian Wootton interviewing Ray Harryhausen, (1)Jason and the Argonants is also regarded by Ray Harryhausen himself, as his most complete film, incorporating as it does much of his seamless and yet large stop-motion animation in many memorable sequences.Ray Harryhausen finally brought the curtain down on his film career in 1982 with his and Charles Schneer greek mythological epic, coppice of the Titans. In 1991, at the sixty-fourth Academy awards, Ray Harryhausen received belatent recognition for his abilities and received the Gordon E.

So You Want to Be an Astronaut :: NASA Space Astronauts Essays

So You Want to Be an Astronaut Part I The lotion Theres an application just to get an application. I had to fill out what NASA calls an application interest form, which is an randomness card much like the var. of card you fill out and send in for a magazine subscription. I got the card at the Johnson Space Center in Houston last summer. The place center is a sixteen-hundred-acre compound filled with lush grass and cream-colored buildings of different shapes and sizes. Satellite dishes bloom like flowers throughout the compound, and the only buildings open to the public atomic number 18 a museum, the rocket park, and mission control. After climbing through a mock-up of the space shuttle, pretending to be Sally Ride, I passed by an information kiosk and the application interest form caught my eye. I grabbed one and stuck it into my Space Center museum guide, forgetting about it until months later when I filled it out and mailed it in. bonny a few weeks ago my application arrived. Its a twenty-five page affair with a glittering blue and silver cover that has a picture of the space shuttle on it. I removed the cover and tacked it up on my bulletin board next to a postcard of Charles Lindbergh stand up in front of The Spirit of St. Louis. Twenty-five pages. Becoming an astronaut is more catchy than applying to Harvard Medical School. More difficult than doing your taxes. Probably even more difficult than running for the senate. Now, I cant be an astronaut because I pose absolutely no interest in math, science, engineering, medicine, or astrophysics. I douse in astronomy, but they dont send you up in the space shuttle because you think it would be neat. However, its important to always have an impossible dream. It keeps you humble. This is my impossible dream. So, I read through the application. Why do you want to be an astronaut? I love the audaciousness of the space program. here we are, little animals trying to jump off our planet . How have your past accomplishments or experiences prepared you to be an astronaut? When I visited the Johnson Space Center in Houston I tried on a space helmet. It fit. The boots were another story but I can wear many layers of socks.