The film March of the Penguins and Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Nature caused me to recognize and become more aware of the magnificent and frightful dominance nature has over us all. We see this display of frightful dominance clearly demonstrated in the film March of the Penguins. The mother, father, and the newborn chick, have to endure temperatures that get as low as -80F degrees, while also evading numerous predators. However in Emerson's essay Nature we see the beautiful, wondrous, and spiritual-esque side of nature. Emerson presents Nature as a way of connecting with God. He see's nature as an expression of the divine and a means of understanding it. March of the Penguins and Emerson's essay Nature both serve to provide thought-provoking and awe-inspiring insights into human beings, animals, and all our relationships with nature.
In Nature, Emerson talks about how for us to truly understand nature we must be abandon ourselves to nature. He says, "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society." He then mentions that when he reads and writes he is never 'truly' solitary, because he has nature. He encourages human beings to look at the stars and meditate upon the heavens. To Emerson, the stars "awaken a certain in reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence." He discusses how this retreat of solitude in nature and meditating upon nature is ultimately steeped with a yearning for beauty. He says, "the world thus exists to the soul to satisfy the desire of beauty." He defines beauty as an expression for the universe, and that beauty is an expression of God.
The excerpts I used above from Emerson's essay intrigued me, because I too love nature (clearly not near as much Emerson). Yet I also recognize how damaging, destructive nature can be as the film March of the Penguins shows. I would have loved to have seen what Emerson would say about the film, which shows how cold, delight-less, and terrifying nature can be. Emerson does kind of talk about this in the end of his second chapter. He states, "For nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." So he does lightly recognize not just the idealist aspects of nature and man, but also the realistic aspects of nature and man. However, I do no think he accurately provides a view of the discord within nature and man. I would have loved to have seen Emerson talk about the cruelty of nature more, as opposed to just beauty. Maybe he would say the cruelty of nature adds to its magnificence and beauty? I don't know. Ultimately, I think March of the Penguins shows the beauty and cruelty of nature, which I feel Emerson failed to recognize.
In Nature, Emerson talks about how for us to truly understand nature we must be abandon ourselves to nature. He says, "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society." He then mentions that when he reads and writes he is never 'truly' solitary, because he has nature. He encourages human beings to look at the stars and meditate upon the heavens. To Emerson, the stars "awaken a certain in reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence." He discusses how this retreat of solitude in nature and meditating upon nature is ultimately steeped with a yearning for beauty. He says, "the world thus exists to the soul to satisfy the desire of beauty." He defines beauty as an expression for the universe, and that beauty is an expression of God.
The excerpts I used above from Emerson's essay intrigued me, because I too love nature (clearly not near as much Emerson). Yet I also recognize how damaging, destructive nature can be as the film March of the Penguins shows. I would have loved to have seen what Emerson would say about the film, which shows how cold, delight-less, and terrifying nature can be. Emerson does kind of talk about this in the end of his second chapter. He states, "For nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." So he does lightly recognize not just the idealist aspects of nature and man, but also the realistic aspects of nature and man. However, I do no think he accurately provides a view of the discord within nature and man. I would have loved to have seen Emerson talk about the cruelty of nature more, as opposed to just beauty. Maybe he would say the cruelty of nature adds to its magnificence and beauty? I don't know. Ultimately, I think March of the Penguins shows the beauty and cruelty of nature, which I feel Emerson failed to recognize.
I'm with you on your last point! I think Emerson could have used the violence of nature somewhere in his essay. It might have been a tough subject to relate, but I think that it would tap into the history of humanity, which is what he briefly discusses. I definitely think that the beauty of nature is an easy way for humans to relate, but I think the violence is worth mentioning.
ReplyDeleteEmerson might be willing to point out that the violence in nature is a necessary role. It fits in with Darwinism and the ultimate truth of mortality. Nothing lives forever and nature is merely following the rules of mortality. I think it would have been beneficial for Emerson to connect these with our own mortality. Much like in nature, we have seen a fair amount of violence and have lost many, but it's sad to say it's part of life. The circle of life and we all abide by it. Maybe that's what connects us with nature, too?
I have no idea, spitballing here, but I think it would have been worth a discussion! Emerson also reminds me of the Into the Wild guy. (Chris McCandless) Once again, though, nature took its toll on him and claimed the man's life.....soooo maybe violence should be added in there for more explanation?
I'm glad to read about something other than "Zootopia." I think your blog is very insightful. "March of the Penguins" is definitely very different and less man-modified than any of the other films chosen. In this we're watching these animals survive through the harshness of their surroundings, but we aren't interfering like Timothy Treadwell did in "Grizzly Man." Which is the right thing to do, not interfering I mean. It's a natural way of life for these penguins to live in these conditions, and I'm glad you brought up the point of the cruelty of nature. Though it may be beautiful, it can be very destructive and unforgiving.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think makes nature so interesting and unique is the fact that it can be separated from itself into a whole new being. Nature can be just as much abstract as it is physically real. And it also can mean just as much to us abstract as it can real. Take Emerson for example, nature inspired him and many of thoughts sprung from it. He fell in love with the entire picture of what nature is and what it can be.
ReplyDeleteI like how you contrast between the pastoral views of Emerson and that harsh and destructive view on nature that is present in "March of the Penguins. It can be easy to get caught up in the beauty of nature especially when we spend some much of our time apart from it. Yet nature can often be an all dominating, uncaring force that can sweep us aside with easy. Look at all that it takes the penguins to just survive an reproduce you can see this side of nature. It is an aspect of nature that believe is not given its proper significance in the Emerson reading.
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