The Dangers of Nonconformity

In the movie, “The Dead Poet’s Society,” the main focus is clearly transcendentalism. Whether to be yourself or to be who people around you want you to be. The movie takes a unique standpoint, though, on the dangers of nonconformity. While most movies and books in recent years have focused on the positive attributions of being yourself, Dead Poet’s Society shows that sometimes it’s best to sit back and not stand out. It shows the stares and the inadequate feelings and the being alone that comes with being yourself. It shows how some people refuse to accept how others choose to live their lives. Neil was put in a position where he felt that he had no choice but to kill himself because he spoke out for what he believed in. In modern society, too many people find themselves in situations similar to Neil.

When people act completely as themselves, separate from all opinions and oppositions of those around them, they are basically set up for ridicule. In highschool in particular, kids are not encouraged to be themselves, and sometimes that might just be the right thing to do. While being themselves could make a person happier at that exact moment, if they’re going to be ridiculed for it, wouldn’t it just be easier to wait for a time when they can be themselves free from judgment? Especially in a town like Grosse Pointe. Anyone who is just a little bit different is forced into becoming another carbon copy of everyone else. While this is obviously a terrible thing that should be changed, I know that I, for one, am not going to be the one who decides to ignore what everyone else says. It would just make life so much harder. Situations like Neil’s are terrifying because I can see myself there in less than two years; I honestly have no idea how being myself around my parents could happen.

Being yourself can be dangerous, as is clearly illustrated by the Dead Poet’s Society. What isn’t clear is if being yourself if more important than safety, or if being ridiculed is worth the freedom that comes with nonconformity.

My t-shirt

The only reason I'm functioning right now is an insane amount of caffeine and the fact that I still have to study for ap us math french and science. so. This is gonna be short and sucky and if that is not enough I can rewrite it this weekend but you can blame Lois.

Basically, I didn't get into any conversations about it, really. People kept not being able to read Whovian. So. That was fun. They were just like "wha-vior? whuvia? whoo....... whovian? what?" So. That was a blast.

This guy in Anne Franke said that I matched this girl in his photo class, aka, Shiv. So. That happened.

Um. People asked what editor meant and I just walked away. Because some things are better left unsaid.

The K fell off of the awkward. So I guess I'm just awward. Sad.

My AP US teacher said that it was good that I got a haircut so you could read the d in potter-head.

Really, no one really asked about it. Anyone who cared, I had already talked about my awesome plan for an acrosticks already, so... Yeah. Yup. YUPP.

THE END

Darren Criss- a modern transcendentalist

Out of all the people in the world, there are some who just make you stop. Make you look at them and wonder what makes them so much braver and more special than you to be so… different. Darren Criss, to me, is one of these people.

I’ve been totally and thoroughly in love with him for about two years now. He wrote a freaking musical about Harry Potter; so basically, I would sell me soul to him in a heartbeat. In a world where people are insisting that stage acting is a dying art, he comes out of NOWHERE with this crazy new musical produced by a small group of college kids and basically takes over the internet! And not only is it a musical, it’s a musical about a highly successful book series that could have easily gone wrong and sent a million fangirls into a rage against him. He didn’t give a crap. Nope. He wrote the music for the entire musical, along with four others.

His individualism actually is a bit of a problem now that he’s kind of famous, as is shown by his behavior at the Deathly Hallows premier (which he was invited to because of his Harry Potter-ness). Darren jumped around in front of some cameras (with his friend Joe Walker, who played Lord Voldemort) and made a bit of a fool of himself. Normally, I’d just think that it’s super cute and walk away, but people were getting PISSED. I remember going on tumblr and there was just huge amounts of hate on there. He hasn’t changed, though, and he’s still the goofiest guy ever.

Another reason why Darren Criss is a modern day Transcendentalist is his support of the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a huge organization (the biggest in the US, I think) for support for LGBTs. They have help lines and fundraisers and projects going on all the time. Darren Criss went on a three-show mini-tour in support of them last summer. It doesn’t matter that gay rights may not be a totally supported topic, he really tries to help them out and even performed a couple of weeks ago at a big concert for them. Not only that, he plays a gay guy on Glee, when he is (apparently) a very straight person. He said in an interview something along the lines of that it was just another acting job. On other shows, he might have to kiss girls he’s not interested in, and it’s really no different on Glee. I think that’s the coolest thing ever.

Darren is totally different from every other celebrity I’ve ever seen. He’s a musical genius (he taught himself how to play seven instruments), he’s co-written several musicals, he’s openly supportive of LGBT rights, and he’s just one of the goofiest people on earth. Darren Criss truly is a modern transcendentalist.

Progress can be defined as many different things. From advances in certain technologies to the growth of industrialism, there are always people opposed to it. Henry Thoreau was a great American writer and thinker. He revolutionized theories about keeping the Earth’s environment intact and was an important opponent of progress, at least in the spreading of cities into wildlife. While his statements and many others should be kept in mind while the world continues to expand, progress is a crucial part of society and needs to be expanded upon for society to function.

A prime example of this is the growth of medicine. As time goes on, diseases progress. If medicine did not advance, the new illnesses would have no treatment and cause breakouts of disease, comparable to the plague. While Thoreau never directly states that the progress of medicine should be halted, certain instruments are needed to produce cures. Without progress in technology, this new medicine could not be created. In order for the Earth to survive, progress needs to be continued; if at the very least, in medicine. As well as for medicinal purposes, progress is also important in assistance for those with special needs.

Like it or not, the world is always changing and developing. Those with mental illnesses or physical disabilities deserve all the help and technology possible. With computer programs and special tools, people with disabilities can live close to normal lives. Without innovation and progress, those people would be forced to suffer unnecessarily. If the technology is possible, it is society’s responsibility to provide them with it. While it’s understandable to not want progress in the building of cities and pollution, technology for the disabled is a right they deserve. Another right that everyone shares is the right to opportunities in the educational system.

Progress in educational services is key. The younger generation are the leaders of tomorrow, and as much knowledge and learning should be provided for them. New schools filled with different opportunities should be readily available. The creation of new and innovative schools, even at the expense of a forest or a pond, could be worth it in the long run. Educating the young could eventually lead them to be the new saviors of the environment, so in a cause and effect perspective, sacrificing for the children could actually be more beneficial than halting progress all together.

Progress, whether it is in medicine, technology for the disabled, or education, is very important. Keeping the young educated, the public healthy, and getting technology to those who need it are just a few examples of society’s need for progress.