In this book review, Laura Miller draws connections between the Transcendentalists of the 19th century and individualist movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
Category Archives: The Individual and Society
Bitter Sweets
Bill Cheng writes about what it is like to be an A.B.C.: an American-Born Chinese. Read about his struggles to belong and feelings of being an outsider.
Virtual Dance Parties Are Popular. What’s Behind Their Rise?
During the coronavirus outbreak, people can’t get together to dance in person. But they can still maintain a connection online to avoid feeling isolated.
The Mexican American War
Learn about a controversial military engagement with far-reaching effects.
What are the effects of isolation in the mind?
University of Chicago researchers have found that lonely people have less activity in the ventral striatum part of the brain, which is part of its reward center and is associated with learning.
Extinction Rebellion’s Regenerative Culture as an alternative to self-care
Regenerative Culture looks at personal care under the lens of collective-care rather than self-care. Read more about the practice and its far-reaching effects.
A Poet Who Pushed (and Recycled) the Envelope
In this article, we learn about a new book, The Gorgeous Nothings, that showcases bits of poetry written on envelopes by Emily Dickinson. Be sure to enlarge the images to take a look at Dickinson’s manuscripts.
Edgar Allan Poe – Mini Biography
Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy continues to pervade American culture to this day. His work and ideas not only helped to create an entire genre of literature but also changed the way many Americans thought and spoke about the human psyche. Watch this short biography of one of America’s most influential Dark Romantics.
Emily Dickinson Collection
Experience the Emily Dickinson Collection at Amherst College. Explore photos of the poet’s handwritten poems and letters.
America Is a Dream
A recently unearthed comic by Stan Lee reveals the lens through which he viewed American society and politics in 2007. Many of the divisions remain, as does the hope that the United States may one day be united.
Why black people discriminate among ourselves: the toxic legacy of colorism
Colorism is a type of discrimination, often (but not always) perpetrated by members of the same race based on the darkness of a person’s skin. Read this personal essay for insight into the impact of this prejudice.
7 Inspiring Quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson That Are Useful Today
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a man of many talents. Read some of his most famous quotes and see their modern day translations.
Black Walden
In Walden, Henry Thoreau mentions that the woods he lived in were also home to people who had escaped from slavery. Read this article to learn more about the lives of African Americans living around Walden Pond.
Bedroom 360 Exhibit
Explore a virtual exhibit of Emily Dickinson’s bedroom. Be sure to click on the information icons to learn more about the objects and surroundings in the author’s life.
The Tale of Mabel, Millicent, and the Poet
Emily Dickinson is taught in classes nationwide and read around the world, but she wasn’t always so widely known. Read the article to learn about the lesser-known forces behind her published poetry.
Martin Luther King, Jr. found inspiration in Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau inspired generations of international protesters with his essay, “Civil Disobedience.” Read how famous figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. transformed Thoreau’s words into impactful actions.
Self Care 101: Where Did “Self-Care” Even Come From?
Read about the evolution of the concepts of the “self” and “self-care” as it pertains to society and the individual.
Do We Code-Switch Our Laughter?
Code-switching, a means for assimilation, is at the forefront of a larger discussion about race and culture. Laughter, it seems, may be one of the traits people change to fit into the larger scheme of society.
A Dual Mission
Amy Guttman’s brief essay describes the tension between the individual and society, detailing the somewhat contradictory American goals of advocating for the individual’s rights while ensuring the common good.
Whitman and Race
Walt Whitman’s views on race reveal the problematic racial bias present even in those considered “progressives” in the 19th century.