Within Gattaca, I noted that the movie was especially naturalistic in its themes, though sometimes it did breach some of the ideals of naturalism. For example, the fact that the entire plot revolves around and actually supports Vincent in his effort to achieve his dreams by breaching the law. However, despite his criminal activities, the film presents Jerome as a noble figure, who is chasing his desires, which suggests the naturalistic in which you must take action regardless of consequences. This idea is even placed more obviously when Vincent states that he won the game of chicken by not thinking about the swim back to the shore, further demonstrating the concept of gaining success without thinking about the action's repercussions. In terms of meaning, the film suggests the theme of living life accordingly to what you want and what your desires are regardless of its effects to other people and any external consequences.
In terms of the movie itself, I found it fairly entertaining. The story was a very creative concept in sci-fi which isn't as over the top as a movie like star wars and a fun adaptation on our near future. I also found the conventions of the movie fairly good. Of course, it wasn't a masterpiece in my opinion, as in some points it felt fairly dull and I feel like the character of Anton wasn't very deep as he rarely showed much emotion. However, there were also good parts, specifically in the character of Jerome/Eugene who was the comedic relief of Gattaca.
Departing from the film, the two world-views of naturalism and transcendentalism are widely different. Concerning origin, naturalism does not contain anything specific but it does have the concept of there being a beginning and among naturalists many have a believe in the big bang and evolution. In morality naturalism is based on the idea that humanity defines their own morals as nature and the universe provides none though a popular ideal from this is the idea of doing whatever you want as long as you don't affect anybody and in transcendentalism morality is relative to finding meaning in nature and the universe. On meaning naturalism also has the concept of man defining their own meaning, though many subscribe to ideas involving a happy life. Transcendentalism on the other hand, defines meaning as a pursuit to reconnect with the spiritual entity that is the universe, for example, in nirvana. Naturalism doesn't really have a main view on destiny, though most naturalists tend to believe that death involves a transition from life into non-existence, or simply, nothing. Transcendentalism though, primarily believes that depending on your life's actions death will result in either reincarnation or a union with the godliness of nature through giving up one's individuality, which is also very similar to the Buddhist concept of Nirvana. In order to sum this up though, I would say that naturalism is the idea that the physical world is all there is and that transcendentalism revolves around the concept that all the universe is one being and that man has a part to play within that being.
In personal experiences, I'd say that I've been heavily exposed to naturalistic views but less so with transcendentalism. Our popular culture is dominated with naturalistic views, which tend to be expressed in more adult works that promote drinking and debauchery. There's also naturalism in school in which we study the natural world through science, which typically excludes a spiritual side of the universe, if any. I also personally consider myself to have many naturalistic views, I do believe in evolution and the big bang as the best concepts on the origins of the universe and I also believe that man's morality and meaning are those we give to ourselves. Regarding transcendentalism, there isn't much that I've experienced. There is of course, the world religions class in which we studied Buddhism, and the fact that some transcendentalist ideas are found in culture, such as these new age spiritual movements, but other than that, I find that I don't believe in many transcendentalist ideas and haven't really had experiences with them.
In media, I feel like the strongest piece that has influenced my world view would have to involve varying nature documentaries such as Life or Planet Earth. These works helped me realize the beauty of the universe and nature and helped me identify myself with more naturalistic views in my realization in the importance of the natural world. Other than this though, I can't pinpoint any other specifics on media that has changed my worldview, though I'm sure many others have discreetly influenced me.
2 Corinthians 4:18's main message is meant to emphasize the importance of the spiritual realm and its eternal nature in contrast to the temporary nature of the physical world. This world view is practically a polar opposite to naturalism, which states that nature and the physical world is all there is, yet this aligns with transcendentalism, which also stresses spirituality.
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