This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
PERIOD 1 - THE BEAR THAT WASN'T
Yesterday, we read The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin. Please share with the class your thoughts about the story and be sure to post at least one comment on another classmate's reflective post.
I thought that The Bear that Wasnt was a good story because it related well to todays society because in some situations, people can determine the identity of someone who has less power and authority.
I really liked the bear story because it teaches a lesson but it also has great illustrations and it’s very entertaining. It’s an easy enough read that young children could read it, but it isn’t too childish for anybody because it addresses the issue of fitting in to groups and nobody ever grows out of the need to fit in. It may be more important to some people than it is to others, but everyone has a part of them that wants to make connections with others.
I thought this book was a good example of how society has such a big influence on people’s identities. The bear continued to doubt himself more and more as people kept telling him otherwise and so eventually he conformed. In the end he rediscovered his true identity and seemed to be much happier that way. I think people are like that as well. It can be stressful trying to be something that you’re not and I think people are much more content and satisfied with themselves when they know they are maintaining their own individual identities.
I enjoyed reading The Bear Story. I liked how the story was set up, with words and lots of pictures. The pictures made it seem like a children’s book, but it had a very grown-up message. Tashlin makes the point that an individual is defined by the group they are in, and I definitely agree with that. Even if the individual does not believe in all of the values or actions the group has, they do not go against the group because they fear becoming an outcast. An individual’s need to belong makes them conform to a group and suppress their own personality, values, and behaviors. I also agree that authority shapes one’s identity. In The Bear Story, the bear was told he was not a bear by people with high-position jobs. Because these people were so powerful, the bear started to believe that he was not a bear. He did not want to go against authority, and I think this is true of many people. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the message it portrays.
I believe that this story of The Bear that Wasn't reflects greatly on society today. This story shows how individuals are affected greatly by what others think about him/her. Because there were people with higher authority than the Bear, he was greatly impacted by what they had to say about him. Like Delson said in class, the higher authority was signified by how many phones they had on their desk, the name of their titles, and how many secretaries the person had. The fact that we as individuals assume that these people had more authority than the bear, just shows how society is a hierarchy and consists of a social ladder. The higher up you are on the ladder the more important you are is what society has become. As more and more people (with more importance than him….according to society) told the bear that he wasn’t a bear he began to believe it himself. This just shows that individuals feel the need to belong and therefore it dictates that individuals actions and thoughts. Because the bear did not feel like he belonged anywhere he began to lose his sense of identity.
I really liked this story. I think it had a very good meaning to it and it also, had very good illustrations. I liked how this showed that if you start to believe what other people think about you, you will start to think the same thing. This story teaches a lesson about how a group of people can change you identity, especially when a higher power is involved. This shows that it is very difficult for one person to go against a whole group. My favorite part of this story was when the factory shut down, the bear had nowhere to go, and since he thought he was a human, he didn’t go into hibernation. However, he then realized that he was really still a bear, and hibernated. This shows that no matter how hard you try to change your identity, you really still are you no matter what people say.
I think that this story was a simple way of pointing out something that happens far too often in our society today. When the bear was first told that he wasn’t a bear, he responded with confidence that he was in fact a bear. But, as he moved up in the chain of authority, more people started to tell him that he wasn’t a bear and he started to doubt himself. And then, just because he was being told that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe that he wasn’t a bear and, in turn, he lost his sense of identity.
I thought the bear story was almost a satirical way of showing the flaws of human society and the negative affects it can have on our individuality. This story also shows the belief we place in members of higher authority. We tend to listen to these people and believe what they say even if they aren't more knowledgeable than we as individuals are. The fact that they have power simply makes them apear important in our minds so we forget what we think and believe and go along with whatever they have to say because if someone powerful is saying something it must be right. The bear story proves that authority is not always right and that we shouldn't allow society to change who we are as individuals.
I think that "the bear that wasn't" is a great example of how the pack mentality of groups makes people rethink their priorities and even do things they wouldn't normally. I find it interesting that the book was published in 1946 right ater the holocaust, in which much of Germany went along with Nazi ideas not because they believed in them, but because they were the most powerful party at the time. The book seems to be talking directly to this event.
I agree with Patrick and I like that he focused on the power and authority aspect because the bear let individuals with more status affect him. I also like that the bear was able to get back to himself at the end, but he struggled just like many people in our society do.
I think that this story exemplifies how society can control an individual’s identity. Stereotypes, whether they’re correct or incorrect, can influence a person they label. In sociology this is known as the “labeling theory”, when someone is labeled by others and then they start acting like what they’re being labeled as even if they truly are different. For example, the bear at first knew he was a bear but the more times people (who were in power) told him that he was just a silly man he became convinced that he really wasn’t a bear and then began to act as if a silly man who needed to shave and was wearing a fur coat would. Situations that are like this happen every day…not necessarily with a bear… but with kids and people in authority or even adults and people in authority. Once someone is told something over and over again it starts to engrave in their mind and they begin to think that it is true. I find this disturbing and sad that stereotypes and the opinions of society can control an entire nation and hypnotize individuals to be what they truly aren’t. Granted, I do believe that I have fallen under the spell of conformity but then again who hasn’t… and that’s just messed up. In conclusion this story is a colorful, playful way of clearly portraying the control of society.
I think that “The Bear That Wasn’t” tells a lot about today’s society. Everybody is different but a lot of people have a hard time accepting the fact that they are. There are so many different types of social groups that exist in the world today and the majority of people strive to fit in to at least one of them. However, when trying to fit in to a certain group, people can lose sense of their own identity. Similar to the bear in “The Bear That Wasn’t”, everyone questioned the bear’s identity, telling him that there was no way he could be a bear, and that he was a “man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat”. The factory workers questioned the bear’s identity so much that the bear ended up questioning his own identity as well. He listened so much to the people around him about what they thought he was that he no longer knew himself. This is something that is constantly happening in today’s society. Everyone wants to fit in a feel a sense of belonging, so to get that feeling, they are willing to do anything, including altering or just losing track of their identity to do so.
I like the bear story because it is a very easy way to teach someone the importance of knowing who they are and letting nobody tell them different. I personally feel that if the bear had gotten angry and roared, or roared in general, it would've convinced the factory owners that he really was a bear. Overall, I really liked this story and if I can remember, I will most likely read it to my future children and help them understand it's message.
I thought the story was a good analogy for people who change to fit in to society. It also shows the impact of alot of people saying one thing, even if it isn't true.
I think that “The Bear that wasn’t” is a great portrayal of how society enforces conforming values within individuals, and doesn’t recognize individual identities. It shows how it is hard to maintain your individual identity with higher powers in society constantly telling us to do the opposite. I think that people have made it human nature to feel the need to be part of a group and fit in.
I thought that The Bear that Wasn't was a great book. I enjoyed the exciting story line and the plot had me on the edge of my seat. The story also had a strong message, telling people to be individuals and showing how groups in society can take away our identity. I think that it is important to maintain your beliefs and always remember that you are a bear, regardless of what anybody else tells you. If everybody was a workman and nobody was a bear, we would live in a pretty boring world.
I thought that The Bear That Wasn’t had a powerful message about conformity and group psychology, while also staying within the bounds of what a child would want to read. I feel like the message that the book conveys can be entirely true when looking at group mentality and the idea that when you’re told something over and over again, you begin to believe it. I enjoyed how at the end of the book, the bear realized his foolishness for buying into the factory worker’s opinions, and was then rewarded with a nice comfortable sleep in his cave. This being a children’s book, I feel that it conveyed these messages without over exaggeration, and that children reading it will not be over caught up in trying to depict its meaning, but merely receive its meaning subconsciously as they enjoy a nice story about a bear. I’m happy that the bear was able to maintain its own individuality by the end of the story, and get away from the thoughts of the group around him, even if it took a little while.
I think “The Bear That Wasn’t” was a well-illustrated example of how parts of our society functions today. Of course, it is over-exaggerated, but I think that the story can apply to almost anyone who is taken out of their stereotypical environment. For example, if we saw President Obama at a Metallica concert, we would probably think it is someone else because he would be taken out of his “environment”. I liked how the author put in a “bureaucracy” in the story, because it showed how people with greater power tend to have greater influence on the rest of us. Not to mention, the bear was completely outnumbered for he was the only character in the story who believed his own identity, though even he could not resist the influence of society at the end. I also want to point out Rick Casparriello’s comment- he mentioned the book as a “satirical way of showing the flaws of human society”. I completely agree with this comment, as I think the book is a perfect example of a modern satire. On a side note, the story reminded me of something Dr. Seuss would write (minus the rhymes).
I think the baer that was planned out well. There were many small details within the depictions within each progression of the bureacracy. For each person in command there was another phone or secretary to show power. Also in crowded scenes like when the factory was being constructed and at the circus there were many details. All of those elemantes helped to aid the progression of the story.
This was a very creative short story. Even though it was a children’s book, analyzing it like we did can really make you think about stereotypes and how people are lumped together into groups because of them. In today’s society, people (especially teens) desperately seek to be accepted by another group of people. Once we are matured, our life and past experiences usually define the person you are today.
I enjoyed switching off to read the bear story yesterday in class. The main character in the book, the bear, was influenced by a more powerful group. This group kept telling him that he was not a bear until he was actually convinced they were correct. This book proved to be similar to our everyday high school life. This kind of situation is seen all the time; where one’s identity is easily be influenced by society and the people around him. This is because groups are more powerful than an individual since they contain multiple individuals who share similar views. It is extremely difficult to go up against a group, which is why we often see people trying to act like the members of the group to fit in.
I agree with Krystle and Emily that this story reflects a lot about today’s society. Today most people will do anything to fit in with another group. People do this because they want to feel accepted, in the society. This story is also, about society because there is a higher power that can control what other people say and do, and when a group of these higher powers get together they are even more powerful and can control a person and their identity.
I agree with Raunaq because in todays society words are very effective on people especially if the person has less power then those telling them they are wrong
I really liked the bear story because I think it was a really simple representation of a very complex idea. With all of the stereotypes and expectations society has today, people feel pressured to look like this or look like that, or act one way or act another. If someone that physically looks like they should follow a stereotype, and doesn't, their identity is changed. A common example would be how everyone thinks African Americans can dance really well, but when society sees one that can't, they assume that they must really not be an African American because they do not meet the stereotype. I really liked this story because it executed a strong message.
I agree with Lyndsie in the way that the story maintained an important message while also being entertaining, as if to get the message out to a younger auidience.
I thought that the bear story was a little bit stupid. I do not understand way the bear did not just leave the factory but I understand how the book realted to society and how people conform to it. Espesially if people of power kept telling you what you are, eventually you will start to belive it. People need to start to be more confident in themselfs.
I think that the Bear Story relates to society. Like we’ve been discussing in class, we are all trying to figure out who we are and what our true identity is. The same goes with the bear. The bear is trying to find his own identity, but certain things are getting in the way. For example, he is having trouble fitting in a group. No group would accept the bear just because he’s different from everyone else. Therefore, the group becomes more powerful over the bear because more and more people agree that he doesn’t fit in. Also, in the bureaucracy, the people kept sending the bear to a more high up person. Since the higher up people in the bureaucracy didn’t accept him, why should anyone below them accept him? I feel like this is similar to if the President of the United States stated something, some people may disagree and those people would probably keep quiet because you don’t want to mess with the big man. If the majority of the people agree with his statement, then the ones who don’t may not say anything just to fit in with the others. Also, I think that a group becomes more powerful because it is easier to get rid of one person rather than a lot of people in the group. I think that because I have a friend who was living with a bunch of girls and was having a lot of trouble. The problem escalated and it resulted in the one girl leaving the apartment rather than the three girls leaving because the group gained more power over the one girl who was innocent. Anyways, I think this problem is completely realistic and people shouldn’t be influenced by what people think even if there are more people against them or pressuring them. Also, those who are in a group and know that someone is right even though everyone else disagrees should speak up with their opinion because that opinion could be very powerful and meaningful. No matter what, if you be who you truly are you will find people who like you and respect you more than if you were someone you’re not.
I thought this story is a great example of how society works. It shows just how easy it is to give in and conform to the group.It also shows how theres always pressure on the person whos different and that person will be pressed until they finally give in and do something they woudlnt normally do.
I agree with David Whalen’s post. I think that the small details of the story, like the number of phones and secretaries to represent power and authority, really aided in the progression of the story. These small details added greater meaning to the whole piece.
I agree with David Whalen’s post. I think that the small details of the story, like the number of phones and secretaries to represent power and authority, really aided in the progression of the story. These small details added greater meaning to the whole piece.
i agree with what ali said, theres always a higher power telling you what to do and most of the time its about being part of the group instead of going out and doing your own thing
I agree with Krystle. I feel like today our society is very judgmental and looks down upon those who are at a lower social status. The name says it all like she says. If someone says doctor, I think of successful. How many doctors aren’t successful? I have no idea, but I bet some aren’t. Just because you have a certain title doesn’t mean anything really. Like Krystle said, “This story shows how individuals are affected greatly by what others think about him/her”. Even those who say they don’t care what other people think, I think that’s not true. There’s always someone who you care about what they think.
I think that the story was realistic to our own lives by how quick something nice and comforting to us can be changed. Today's society is based on who has power and who doesn't, so when someone with less power tries to stand for them selves Someone with a higher power can bring them down easily.
I agree with Missy on how if you start to believe what other people think about you, you will start to think the same thing. The Bear could have avoided the situation he was in but when the Presidents kept saying he was a man that needed to shave and wore a fur coat the bear did not think hard enough that he really was a bear, so he was easily persuaded.
I agree with what Ashley Markson about how "The Bear That Wasn't" does a good job of showing identity by association. If a person associated with a certain environment is then put in an entirely different environment, then the identity of the associated with the original environment will not be considered to determine identity. Bears are associated with zoo's not factories as politicians are associated with press conferences instead of concerts. The environment in those cases goes against determining the identity of a person. In the story, the physical identity of the bear was considered but was outweighed by the environment identity. Identity can be associated with many things. Environment is just one example. If the bear sounded like a bear he might have been considered a bear. The bear would be associated with a growl, further determining his identity. However, if the identity of the bear was never in question then there would be no story to tell.
I agree with what mike said about this book applying to our lives and how the power of a group influences our decisions in high school a lot of the time.
I agree with Bram, I like how the question, why didn't the bear just leave the factory? was brought up. I didn't think of that while i was reading the story and would be interested to look more into that.
I agree with Steph. I really like your point about how an "individual is defined by the group that they are in". This brings up an interesting point because if someone who is defined by the group that they are in, then they are no longer necesarilly considered an individual. An individual can not be defined by a group, an individual defines themself by setting themself apart from the group. I think that this is a problem in today's society because many people find a sense of belonging to a group more important than being an individual.
I agree with John Covino, I think that this story is realistic to our everyday lives because a group is always more powerful than an individual. If someone tries to stand up for themselves, the higher power can bring them down easily. This is why we often see people trying to act like members of the group to fit in.
People naturally want to have friends to rely on and to be associated with. Typically, a person would want to be a part of any type of group, whether it be a social or organized group, have these advantages of being with people who are like you. Human’s needs to be a part of a group could affect our actions, because people may try to change themselves to conform more appropriately to a specific group. People need to keep a few friends close and these friends need to accept you for who you are. People shouldn’t have to conform themselves to feel accepted.
I found the story to be a not so clever way to state what I feel is rather obvious. The message it puts across, though, is relevant to modern society, as well as the past and the future.
I think the story was realistic to an extent. It can happen to SOME kids in SOME situations, because not everyone gives in to peer pressure but those who do they forget and question who they actually are because of what other people think.
The bear story is about how the more someone drills an idea into your head, the more you begin to believe it. When reading this story I found a few things funny in particular about the story. One is how the factory is built on top of the bears cave before he wakes up for the spring. It takes a long time to build a factory and I am also pretty sure that the bear would have noticed the factory being built and woken up. Another thing is how the Offices of the various managers kept getting nicer and nicer as they went up the chain of command. As for the basic idea of the story, it seems like a valid point. People tend to believe things they are told. This happens every day and is one of the easiest forms of manipulation because most of the time people don’t try to question the ideas after enough time has gone by.
50 comments:
I was absent that day. :(
I thought that The Bear that Wasnt was a good story because it related well to todays society because in some situations, people can determine the identity of someone who has less power and authority.
I really liked the bear story because it teaches a lesson but it also has great illustrations and it’s very entertaining. It’s an easy enough read that young children could read it, but it isn’t too childish for anybody because it addresses the issue of fitting in to groups and nobody ever grows out of the need to fit in. It may be more important to some people than it is to others, but everyone has a part of them that wants to make connections with others.
I thought this book was a good example of how society has such a big influence on people’s identities. The bear continued to doubt himself more and more as people kept telling him otherwise and so eventually he conformed. In the end he rediscovered his true identity and seemed to be much happier that way. I think people are like that as well. It can be stressful trying to be something that you’re not and I think people are much more content and satisfied with themselves when they know they are maintaining their own individual identities.
I enjoyed reading The Bear Story. I liked how the story was set up, with words and lots of pictures. The pictures made it seem like a children’s book, but it had a very grown-up message. Tashlin makes the point that an individual is defined by the group they are in, and I definitely agree with that. Even if the individual does not believe in all of the values or actions the group has, they do not go against the group because they fear becoming an outcast. An individual’s need to belong makes them conform to a group and suppress their own personality, values, and behaviors. I also agree that authority shapes one’s identity. In The Bear Story, the bear was told he was not a bear by people with high-position jobs. Because these people were so powerful, the bear started to believe that he was not a bear. He did not want to go against authority, and I think this is true of many people. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the message it portrays.
I believe that this story of The Bear that Wasn't reflects greatly on society today. This story shows how individuals are affected greatly by what others think about him/her. Because there were people with higher authority than the Bear, he was greatly impacted by what they had to say about him. Like Delson said in class, the higher authority was signified by how many phones they had on their desk, the name of their titles, and how many secretaries the person had. The fact that we as individuals assume that these people had more authority than the bear, just shows how society is a hierarchy and consists of a social ladder. The higher up you are on the ladder the more important you are is what society has become. As more and more people (with more importance than him….according to society) told the bear that he wasn’t a bear he began to believe it himself. This just shows that individuals feel the need to belong and therefore it dictates that individuals actions and thoughts. Because the bear did not feel like he belonged anywhere he began to lose his sense of identity.
I really liked this story. I think it had a very good meaning to it and it also, had very good illustrations. I liked how this showed that if you start to believe what other people think about you, you will start to think the same thing. This story teaches a lesson about how a group of people can change you identity, especially when a higher power is involved. This shows that it is very difficult for one person to go against a whole group. My favorite part of this story was when the factory shut down, the bear had nowhere to go, and since he thought he was a human, he didn’t go into hibernation. However, he then realized that he was really still a bear, and hibernated. This shows that no matter how hard you try to change your identity, you really still are you no matter what people say.
I think that this story was a simple way of pointing out something that happens far too often in our society today. When the bear was first told that he wasn’t a bear, he responded with confidence that he was in fact a bear. But, as he moved up in the chain of authority, more people started to tell him that he wasn’t a bear and he started to doubt himself. And then, just because he was being told that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe that he wasn’t a bear and, in turn, he lost his sense of identity.
I thought the bear story was almost a satirical way of showing the flaws of human society and the negative affects it can have on our individuality. This story also shows the belief we place in members of higher authority. We tend to listen to these people and believe what they say even if they aren't more knowledgeable than we as individuals are. The fact that they have power simply makes them apear important in our minds so we forget what we think and believe and go along with whatever they have to say because if someone powerful is saying something it must be right. The bear story proves that authority is not always right and that we shouldn't allow society to change who we are as individuals.
I think that "the bear that wasn't" is a great example of how the pack mentality of groups makes people rethink their priorities and even do things they wouldn't normally. I find it interesting that the book was published in 1946 right ater the holocaust, in which much of Germany went along with Nazi ideas not because they believed in them, but because they were the most powerful party at the time. The book seems to be talking directly to this event.
I agree with Patrick and I like that he focused on the power and authority aspect because the bear let individuals with more status affect him. I also like that the bear was able to get back to himself at the end, but he struggled just like many people in our society do.
I think that this story exemplifies how society can control an individual’s identity. Stereotypes, whether they’re correct or incorrect, can influence a person they label. In sociology this is known as the “labeling theory”, when someone is labeled by others and then they start acting like what they’re being labeled as even if they truly are different. For example, the bear at first knew he was a bear but the more times people (who were in power) told him that he was just a silly man he became convinced that he really wasn’t a bear and then began to act as if a silly man who needed to shave and was wearing a fur coat would. Situations that are like this happen every day…not necessarily with a bear… but with kids and people in authority or even adults and people in authority. Once someone is told something over and over again it starts to engrave in their mind and they begin to think that it is true. I find this disturbing and sad that stereotypes and the opinions of society can control an entire nation and hypnotize individuals to be what they truly aren’t. Granted, I do believe that I have fallen under the spell of conformity but then again who hasn’t… and that’s just messed up. In conclusion this story is a colorful, playful way of clearly portraying the control of society.
I think that “The Bear That Wasn’t” tells a lot about today’s society. Everybody is different but a lot of people have a hard time accepting the fact that they are. There are so many different types of social groups that exist in the world today and the majority of people strive to fit in to at least one of them. However, when trying to fit in to a certain group, people can lose sense of their own identity. Similar to the bear in “The Bear That Wasn’t”, everyone questioned the bear’s identity, telling him that there was no way he could be a bear, and that he was a “man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat”. The factory workers questioned the bear’s identity so much that the bear ended up questioning his own identity as well. He listened so much to the people around him about what they thought he was that he no longer knew himself. This is something that is constantly happening in today’s society. Everyone wants to fit in a feel a sense of belonging, so to get that feeling, they are willing to do anything, including altering or just losing track of their identity to do so.
I like the bear story because it is a very easy way to teach someone the importance of knowing who they are and letting nobody tell them different. I personally feel that if the bear had gotten angry and roared, or roared in general, it would've convinced the factory owners that he really was a bear. Overall, I really liked this story and if I can remember, I will most likely read it to my future children and help them understand it's message.
I thought the story was a good analogy for people who change to fit in to society. It also shows the impact of alot of people saying one thing, even if it isn't true.
I think that “The Bear that wasn’t” is a great portrayal of how society enforces conforming values within individuals, and doesn’t recognize individual identities. It shows how it is hard to maintain your individual identity with higher powers in society constantly telling us to do the opposite. I think that people have made it human nature to feel the need to be part of a group and fit in.
I agree with Marissa Welch, the pictures definitly enhanced the meaning of the story.
I thought that The Bear that Wasn't was a great book. I enjoyed the exciting story line and the plot had me on the edge of my seat. The story also had a strong message, telling people to be individuals and showing how groups in society can take away our identity. I think that it is important to maintain your beliefs and always remember that you are a bear, regardless of what anybody else tells you. If everybody was a workman and nobody was a bear, we would live in a pretty boring world.
I thought that The Bear That Wasn’t had a powerful message about conformity and group psychology, while also staying within the bounds of what a child would want to read. I feel like the message that the book conveys can be entirely true when looking at group mentality and the idea that when you’re told something over and over again, you begin to believe it. I enjoyed how at the end of the book, the bear realized his foolishness for buying into the factory worker’s opinions, and was then rewarded with a nice comfortable sleep in his cave. This being a children’s book, I feel that it conveyed these messages without over exaggeration, and that children reading it will not be over caught up in trying to depict its meaning, but merely receive its meaning subconsciously as they enjoy a nice story about a bear. I’m happy that the bear was able to maintain its own individuality by the end of the story, and get away from the thoughts of the group around him, even if it took a little while.
I think “The Bear That Wasn’t” was a well-illustrated example of how parts of our society functions today. Of course, it is over-exaggerated, but I think that the story can apply to almost anyone who is taken out of their stereotypical environment. For example, if we saw President Obama at a Metallica concert, we would probably think it is someone else because he would be taken out of his “environment”. I liked how the author put in a “bureaucracy” in the story, because it showed how people with greater power tend to have greater influence on the rest of us. Not to mention, the bear was completely outnumbered for he was the only character in the story who believed his own identity, though even he could not resist the influence of society at the end.
I also want to point out Rick Casparriello’s comment- he mentioned the book as a “satirical way of showing the flaws of human society”. I completely agree with this comment, as I think the book is a perfect example of a modern satire.
On a side note, the story reminded me of something Dr. Seuss would write (minus the rhymes).
I think that Sean made a really good observation and I completely agree that this story relates directly to the Holocaust.
I think the baer that was planned out well. There were many small details within the depictions within each progression of the bureacracy. For each person in command there was another phone or secretary to show power. Also in crowded scenes like when the factory was being constructed and at the circus there were many details. All of those elemantes helped to aid the progression of the story.
This was a very creative short story. Even though it was a children’s book, analyzing it like we did can really make you think about stereotypes and how people are lumped together into groups because of them. In today’s society, people (especially teens) desperately seek to be accepted by another group of people. Once we are matured, our life and past experiences usually define the person you are today.
I enjoyed switching off to read the bear story yesterday in class. The main character in the book, the bear, was influenced by a more powerful group. This group kept telling him that he was not a bear until he was actually convinced they were correct. This book proved to be similar to our everyday high school life. This kind of situation is seen all the time; where one’s identity is easily be influenced by society and the people around him. This is because groups are more powerful than an individual since they contain multiple individuals who share similar views. It is extremely difficult to go up against a group, which is why we often see people trying to act like the members of the group to fit in.
I agree with Krystle and Emily that this story reflects a lot about today’s society. Today most people will do anything to fit in with another group. People do this because they want to feel accepted, in the society. This story is also, about society because there is a higher power that can control what other people say and do, and when a group of these higher powers get together they are even more powerful and can control a person and their identity.
I agree with Allie and what she said about how people are more satisfied when they know that they are maintaining their own identity.
I agree with Raunaq because in todays society words are very effective on people especially if the person has less power then those telling them they are wrong
I agree with what Ethan said because I think the fact that it was a children's book shows that this issue isn't very complicated
I really liked the bear story because I think it was a really simple representation of a very complex idea. With all of the stereotypes and expectations society has today, people feel pressured to look like this or look like that, or act one way or act another. If someone that physically looks like they should follow a stereotype, and doesn't, their identity is changed. A common example would be how everyone thinks African Americans can dance really well, but when society sees one that can't, they assume that they must really not be an African American because they do not meet the stereotype. I really liked this story because it executed a strong message.
I agree with Lyndsie in the way that the story maintained an important message while also being entertaining, as if to get the message out to a younger auidience.
I thought that the bear story was a little bit stupid. I do not understand way the bear did not just leave the factory but I understand how the book realted to society and how people conform to it. Espesially if people of power kept telling you what you are, eventually you will start to belive it. People need to start to be more confident in themselfs.
I think that the Bear Story relates to society. Like we’ve been discussing in class, we are all trying to figure out who we are and what our true identity is. The same goes with the bear. The bear is trying to find his own identity, but certain things are getting in the way. For example, he is having trouble fitting in a group. No group would accept the bear just because he’s different from everyone else. Therefore, the group becomes more powerful over the bear because more and more people agree that he doesn’t fit in. Also, in the bureaucracy, the people kept sending the bear to a more high up person. Since the higher up people in the bureaucracy didn’t accept him, why should anyone below them accept him? I feel like this is similar to if the President of the United States stated something, some people may disagree and those people would probably keep quiet because you don’t want to mess with the big man. If the majority of the people agree with his statement, then the ones who don’t may not say anything just to fit in with the others. Also, I think that a group becomes more powerful because it is easier to get rid of one person rather than a lot of people in the group. I think that because I have a friend who was living with a bunch of girls and was having a lot of trouble. The problem escalated and it resulted in the one girl leaving the apartment rather than the three girls leaving because the group gained more power over the one girl who was innocent. Anyways, I think this problem is completely realistic and people shouldn’t be influenced by what people think even if there are more people against them or pressuring them. Also, those who are in a group and know that someone is right even though everyone else disagrees should speak up with their opinion because that opinion could be very powerful and meaningful. No matter what, if you be who you truly are you will find people who like you and respect you more than if you were someone you’re not.
I thought this story is a great example of how society works. It shows just how easy it is to give in and conform to the group.It also shows how theres always pressure on the person whos different and that person will be pressed until they finally give in and do something they woudlnt normally do.
I agree with David Whalen’s post. I think that the small details of the story, like the number of phones and secretaries to represent power and authority, really aided in the progression of the story. These small details added greater meaning to the whole piece.
I agree with David Whalen’s post. I think that the small details of the story, like the number of phones and secretaries to represent power and authority, really aided in the progression of the story. These small details added greater meaning to the whole piece.
i agree with what ali said, theres always a higher power telling you what to do and most of the time its about being part of the group instead of going out and doing your own thing
I agree with Krystle. I feel like today our society is very judgmental and looks down upon those who are at a lower social status. The name says it all like she says. If someone says doctor, I think of successful. How many doctors aren’t successful? I have no idea, but I bet some aren’t. Just because you have a certain title doesn’t mean anything really. Like Krystle said, “This story shows how individuals are affected greatly by what others think about him/her”. Even those who say they don’t care what other people think, I think that’s not true. There’s always someone who you care about what they think.
I agree with Erik on just how easy it is to conform to a group or society.
I think that the story was realistic to our own lives by how quick something nice and comforting to us can be changed. Today's society is based on who has power and who doesn't, so when someone with less power tries to stand for them selves Someone with a higher power can bring them down easily.
I agree with Missy on how if you start to believe what other people think about you, you will start to think the same thing. The Bear could have avoided the situation he was in but when the Presidents kept saying he was a man that needed to shave and wore a fur coat the bear did not think hard enough that he really was a bear, so he was easily persuaded.
I agree with what Ashley Markson about how "The Bear That Wasn't" does a good job of showing identity by association. If a person associated with a certain environment is then put in an entirely different environment, then the identity of the associated with the original environment will not be considered to determine identity. Bears are associated with zoo's not factories as politicians are associated with press conferences instead of concerts. The environment in those cases goes against determining the identity of a person. In the story, the physical identity of the bear was considered but was outweighed by the environment identity. Identity can be associated with many things. Environment is just one example. If the bear sounded like a bear he might have been considered a bear. The bear would be associated with a growl, further determining his identity. However, if the identity of the bear was never in question then there would be no story to tell.
I agree with what mike said about this book applying to our lives and how the power of a group influences our decisions in high school a lot of the time.
I agree with Bram, I like how the question, why didn't the bear just leave the factory? was brought up. I didn't think of that while i was reading the story and would be interested to look more into that.
I agree with Steph. I really like your point about how an "individual is defined by the group that they are in". This brings up an interesting point because if someone who is defined by the group that they are in, then they are no longer necesarilly considered an individual. An individual can not be defined by a group, an individual defines themself by setting themself apart from the group. I think that this is a problem in today's society because many people find a sense of belonging to a group more important than being an individual.
I agree with John Covino, I think that this story is realistic to our everyday lives because a group is always more powerful than an individual. If someone tries to stand up for themselves, the higher power can bring them down easily. This is why we often see people trying to act like members of the group to fit in.
People naturally want to have friends to rely on and to be associated with. Typically, a person would want to be a part of any type of group, whether it be a social or organized group, have these advantages of being with people who are like you. Human’s needs to be a part of a group could affect our actions, because people may try to change themselves to conform more appropriately to a specific group. People need to keep a few friends close and these friends need to accept you for who you are. People shouldn’t have to conform themselves to feel accepted.
I found the story to be a not so clever way to state what I feel is rather obvious. The message it puts across, though, is relevant to modern society, as well as the past and the future.
I think the story was realistic to an extent. It can happen to SOME kids in SOME situations, because not everyone gives in to peer pressure but those who do they forget and question who they actually are because of what other people think.
I agree with Patrick McGonagle it does relate to todays society
The bear story is about how the more someone drills an idea into your head, the more you begin to believe it. When reading this story I found a few things funny in particular about the story. One is how the factory is built on top of the bears cave before he wakes up for the spring. It takes a long time to build a factory and I am also pretty sure that the bear would have noticed the factory being built and woken up. Another thing is how the Offices of the various managers kept getting nicer and nicer as they went up the chain of command. As for the basic idea of the story, it seems like a valid point. People tend to believe things they are told. This happens every day and is one of the easiest forms of manipulation because most of the time people don’t try to question the ideas after enough time has gone by.
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