Being Herself: Lovin Life

An example of a modern day transcendentalist would be Selena Gomez. Her true personality is expressed through her acting and her music. She is an amazing artist, and in her songs, she encourages young girls to be themselves. In the song below “Who Says” by Selena Gomez, the lyrics say “But when it comes to me, I wouldn’t want to be anybody else.” This very much expresses the beliefs of transcendentalists. They believe that others should express who they are without the opinions of others affecting them or changing the very essence of their being. She is very charismatic and is able to influence teens and young adults all over the world. Many people look up to her as a role model and characterize her as a performer with character as well as strong morals and values.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzE1mX4Px0I&ob=av3e

 Selena’s transcendentalist attitude guides others to believe it is okay to be who they are, and that other people’s opinions don’t matter. Being a musician and actresses in the public eye, she has a great deal of pressure to act a certain way for the media. We have often seen other actors, actresses, and musicians crack under this intense pressure. They become influenced by materialistic goods, the unrelenting examination of their fans, and even put on an act to try to portray someone they are not. Though many think it is easier to pretend to be someone they are not just to fit in, sometimes it is harder.  Emerson once said “imitation is suicide” by imitating someone you are killing what you could be if you were yourself. Selena supports this, and she stated “Be yourself always, there’s no one better!” which sets a good example for young fans. Eventually, pretending to be someone we are not, will become evident. The game of pretense can only occur for so long without the scammer suffering or others become aware of the façade.

In Hollywood and the business of performing, the artists often suffer ridicule and harsh criticism for every move they make due to severe scrutiny of the public. To rise above this judgment and to stay true to who they are is very inspiring, and this is what makes Selena Gomez a true modern day transcendentalist. Selena is true to herself and is a breath of fresh air in a world of much fake and pretense.

Gomez, Selena. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_59520/selena-gomez/quotes>.