This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
PERIOD 4 - THE BEAR
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.
41 comments:
Ruby Bagonia
said...
Mr. Gallagher. I will do anything to get a good grade in your class.
I agree with Danielle that its about not listening to what others tell you and believing in what you are. i think its about not letting anyone else's judgements define you. overall i liked the story and i thought it had a cute message.
I could connect to the bear because sometimes it's difficult to stand up for yourself when others want you to be or act in a certain way. I also agree with Danielle that no matter how difficult it may be, you have to fight for yourself and not care about what other people think or how they will judge you.
I think that the bear story really shows how a person can be defined by how other people percieve them. When a person is continually told that they are something that they're not, it can have an impact on how that person views themself. I agree with Danielle that he fought for what he believed in but I also think that he eventually rejected his beliefs and started to view himself in the same way as the other people.
I agree with Marissa that a person’s identity can be defined by how society views them like how the bear was viewed as a human by society. I do not think its fair for someone to be told what to think or be quickly judged and I think it is good to be able to stand up for what you believe in. Although I think it is good to stand up for what you believe in I also realize that standing up to a group of people that thinks something different from you can take a lot of courage and it is not easy to do because you don’t want to be an outcast.
The story sends a good message, absolutely. I'm behind the bear all the way, but I'm wondering why Tashlin picked a bear to be representative of whatever moral he was trying to convey through the story. The context of the story is the only thing that puzzles me, but otherwise, the message/moral is clear cut. Fight on, Bear.
I liked the message of the story. I can see how the repetition of some idea can slowly grow on someone- or something as is the case of the Bear- and eventually is accepted as truth, even though it is completely false, or at the very least out of proportion. Overall I must say that I have tried to think more about whether or not I have ever experienced this type of situation over the past couple of days...
To try to answer your question, Nick Pham, I think that Tashlin chose a bear most likely because of the connotations surrounding bears. Bears are typically viewed as brave, fearless, and with assertive authority as to describing who they are- or at least they stand pretty tall on two feet. I think that picking a bear is more obvious than picking a cute duckling or a puppy for this type of story. By the way I like your last sentence "Fight on, Bear".
I enjoyed this story because it explored some human nature, like how society has set images of how something should be and they have a hard time believing anything out of that set image. The bear was a unique way to represent someone who doesn't fit in with society. I liked the artwork and the wording overall. In addition, I agree with Danielle's post about the advice it gives you - the bear realized in the end he was no silly man, and no one else should give into society either.
I agree with Nick Lanciani about why Tashlin chose a bear instead of, say, a cute little puppy; it sends the message that even the strongest amongst us are affected by societal conventions and it’s extremely difficult, near impossible, to avoid those effects. In my opinion, the message of the story isn’t so much “don’t listen to what other people tell you” or “don’t take anyone’s advice”, but rather to be yourself. Don’t let other people’s images, actions, or expectations affect what you want to do or who you want to be.
Kevin's response especially spoke to me;as we saw today in class, even the most unsettling or imposing first impressions should be taken with a grain of salt because we do not truly know who is behind each person's physical mask of appearance. One could be a bear on the outside and a poodle on the inside, or the opposite. However, this book primarily states thematically to be yourself and try not to pay attention to others while creating your identity. However, I got the impression that the Bear could only be himself when he was isolated and away from all social contact, suggesting that some people really don't fit in if they be themselves and never will have a chance in society or even with basic relationships. While these people are "staying true to themself," that sounds like a pretty depressing message to me.
I completely agree with Marissa when she says a person can be defined by how other people perceive them. Finding your identity is a continued process that changes every day with every experience. Its hard to find your true identity when people are constantly telling you what it is. After a while other peoples ideas can influence or take over who you are, just like in the story The Bear That Wasn't. My favorite part of the story was when the Bear decided to block out everything everyone had told him, follow his instinct, trust himself and go back to the cave where he found himself again. Sometimes all it takes is believing in your self to find your path again.
Kev that was pretty smart to look at the type of animal Tashlin picked to center this story around i never even thought about the actual characters in the story more just the idea
I like the bear story because it shows how people/society attempt to influence people and i believe that its not everything said by a person one should listen to or take into consideration in their life especially negative things
I like the bear story because it shows no matter how lost you become from you identity, at one point in your life you will find your way back to yourself.
I also agree with Jack Howarth, with the wording and artwork of this story was amazing and how they used a bear to represent a person that doesn't fit in the society.
For me, the bear story showed how easy it is for society to influence your perception of yourself. Even when the bear was so sure of who and what he was, once he had others telling him he was wrong he began to question himself. I think Tashlin is telling the human race that we need to not let other's perception of ourselves influence our self identity.
I agree with Kevin's comment about being yourself. I think that not letting other's stop you from doing what you want to do and being who you want to be is an important aspect of this story.
I liked the bear story because I found that it easily relates to this generation. The story shows how people tend to be defined by society, especially people of higher ranking, rather than by themselves. Instead of people being unique and showing individuality, some people try to fit into a group and let others control who they are. Since the bear is repeatedly told that it in fact is not a bear, he starts to doubt himself so much that he believes what all the other people are saying. I think this shows how it is so easy for people to lose their true identity when instead they should be staying true to who they are. I really liked how Kevin brought up the use of a bear rather than a puppy because that aspect of the story never caught my attention and he made a really good point about that.
I did not like or dislike the bear story. I am neutral to it. It shows that identity is not who you actually are identity is what your percieved as. You can be different from your identity.
I liked the bear story because it displayed the problems a lot of people have in everyday life, in a very creative and effective way. I think it's very common that some people change their own identities in order to fit in with a particular group of people. Also, the story showed how if someone keeps hearing negative things about themselves repeatedly, they sometimes start believing it themselves. I agree with Jack in that it was very creative to use a bear to illustrate problems some people have in society, rather than a regular human.
I enjoyed the bear story because it showed how easily someone can lose their identity. The bear was told by multiple people that he was not a bear because he was not where bears "should be" and eventually he believed it. He finally found his identity after sitting out in the dead of winter. People should not just follow what other people think, they need to be whoever they really are.
I agree with Kevin. You need to be able to think for yourself and find out what you really are and what you want to do. No body knows you as much as yourself.
I think that the Bear story is really important to show in a simpler way how society impacts an individual over time. No matter how sure you are of who you are and what you believe, society repeatedly tells us we are wrong to think and to be who we are. Until we truly believe that we were wrong all along. The ending is key for the meaning the author was going for because the bear chooses to be who he originally was to be happy, instead of conforming to society and being miserable.
I really liked the bear story because the bear tried to stay true to himself for as long as possible. I think that’s rather important because he believed in what he thought. He did not automatically give into what other people were saying about him. I think that this shows society that you have to believe in what you think and not think or give into what others say.
I agree with Colleen in that society continues to tell us that we are wrong. It’s a sad thing because it essentially takes away in the individuality that makes everyone unique.
I think that the bear story was meant to show that its difficult to stand up for your own beliefs when they contradict the opinions of the group. This is an important message. I agree with Jack in saying that the Bear served as a unique way to get this message across.
I enjoyed the bear story because it showed the problems a lot of people face. It had a deep meaning even though it was a picture book. It's difficult to stand up for yourself or be your own person when everyone is going against you and doesn't agree or like that you may not fit in with society. I agree with Jeff in the senese that a lot of people can easily be effected by what other people say about them, and not stand up for themselves as much as other people may. Overal i enjoyed the story and liked the message it sent.
I really liked the bear story too. I felt that it represented how you can lose your own identity if you listen to what other people say about you. I felt like one of the biggest message of the story was to use your voice and stand up for yourself. Even though the bear tried doing so at first, he eventually gave up and went with the flow. Poor bear :( .
I also agree with Danielle, that it's not about listening to what others have to say about you. You have to essentially fight for your voice to be hear. Don't give in to what others have to say about you. :)
I really liked the message that the bear story conveyed. As a society, we are always trying to figure each other out. When something that is out of the ordinary occurs, such as a bear walking around a factory, people try to make sense of the situation in whatever way possible. This has led to society’s obsession with stereotypes. Pigeonholing people into certain groups, such as jock or nerd, is easier than viewing each person as an individual. This is a dangerous practice that we have all experienced. In one way or another, we have fallen victim to stereotyping, and we have been guilty of generalizing as well. The bear story acts as an important reminder to be steadfast in who you are as a person, but to also avoid the human tendency to paint with a broad brush.
I agree with Colleen. It is important for use to remain aware of the influence that society has over us. People like to think that they are impervious to peer pressure, but it's unrealistic to act as if the continued push from such a large group is not, at times, very difficult to overcome.
I liked this story because it shows the individuality of the bear. Even though every has told him that he is not a bear, he still believes he is. I also agree with Jack and Owen because I liked the use of the bear to represent the moral of the story.
I enjoyed reading the bear story because it really demonstrates the way many people tend to feel at some point in life. Although one may be confident in who they are, like the bear was, one stil has the power to lose their identity because of what others say. The bear knew he was clearly a bear but the opinions of his authorities caused him to doubt who he was.
I agree with Colleen that it is important to be happy in life and even if people doubt who you are you should believe in your self and be who you want to be.
41 comments:
Mr. Gallagher. I will do anything to get a good grade in your class.
I liked the bear story,
I liked this bear story because it talks about you never give up on yourself. You fight for what is right and not listen to what people tell you.
I agree with Danielle that its about not listening to what others tell you and believing in what you are. i think its about not letting anyone else's judgements define you. overall i liked the story and i thought it had a cute message.
I could connect to the bear because sometimes it's difficult to stand up for yourself when others want you to be or act in a certain way. I also agree with Danielle that no matter how difficult it may be, you have to fight for yourself and not care about what other people think or how they will judge you.
I think that the bear story really shows how a person can be defined by how other people percieve them. When a person is continually told that they are something that they're not, it can have an impact on how that person views themself. I agree with Danielle that he fought for what he believed in but I also think that he eventually rejected his beliefs and started to view himself in the same way as the other people.
I agree with Marissa that a person’s identity can be defined by how society views them like how the bear was viewed as a human by society. I do not think its fair for someone to be told what to think or be quickly judged and I think it is good to be able to stand up for what you believe in. Although I think it is good to stand up for what you believe in I also realize that standing up to a group of people that thinks something different from you can take a lot of courage and it is not easy to do because you don’t want to be an outcast.
The story sends a good message, absolutely. I'm behind the bear all the way, but I'm wondering why Tashlin picked a bear to be representative of whatever moral he was trying to convey through the story. The context of the story is the only thing that puzzles me, but otherwise, the message/moral is clear cut. Fight on, Bear.
I think the way Danielle summed up the story can also function as the story's moral. I agree with it all the way.
I liked the message of the story. I can see how the repetition of some idea can slowly grow on someone- or something as is the case of the Bear- and eventually is accepted as truth, even though it is completely false, or at the very least out of proportion. Overall I must say that I have tried to think more about whether or not I have ever experienced this type of situation over the past couple of days...
To try to answer your question, Nick Pham, I think that Tashlin chose a bear most likely because of the connotations surrounding bears. Bears are typically viewed as brave, fearless, and with assertive authority as to describing who they are- or at least they stand pretty tall on two feet. I think that picking a bear is more obvious than picking a cute duckling or a puppy for this type of story. By the way I like your last sentence "Fight on, Bear".
I enjoyed this story because it explored some human nature, like how society has set images of how something should be and they have a hard time believing anything out of that set image. The bear was a unique way to represent someone who doesn't fit in with society. I liked the artwork and the wording overall. In addition, I agree with Danielle's post about the advice it gives you - the bear realized in the end he was no silly man, and no one else should give into society either.
I agree with Nick Lanciani about why Tashlin chose a bear instead of, say, a cute little puppy; it sends the message that even the strongest amongst us are affected by societal conventions and it’s extremely difficult, near impossible, to avoid those effects. In my opinion, the message of the story isn’t so much “don’t listen to what other people tell you” or “don’t take anyone’s advice”, but rather to be yourself. Don’t let other people’s images, actions, or expectations affect what you want to do or who you want to be.
Kevin's response especially spoke to me;as we saw today in class, even the most unsettling or imposing first impressions should be taken with a grain of salt because we do not truly know who is behind each person's physical mask of appearance. One could be a bear on the outside and a poodle on the inside, or the opposite. However, this book primarily states thematically to be yourself and try not to pay attention to others while creating your identity. However, I got the impression that the Bear could only be himself when he was isolated and away from all social contact, suggesting that some people really don't fit in if they be themselves and never will have a chance in society or even with basic relationships. While these people are "staying true to themself," that sounds like a pretty depressing message to me.
I completely agree with Marissa when she says a person can be defined by how other people perceive them. Finding your identity is a continued process that changes every day with every experience. Its hard to find your true identity when people are constantly telling you what it is. After a while other peoples ideas can influence or take over who you are, just like in the story The Bear That Wasn't. My favorite part of the story was when the Bear decided to block out everything everyone had told him, follow his instinct, trust himself and go back to the cave where he found himself again. Sometimes all it takes is believing in your self to find your path again.
Kev that was pretty smart to look at the type of animal Tashlin picked to center this story around i never even thought about the actual characters in the story more just the idea
I like the bear story because it shows how people/society attempt to influence people and i believe that its not everything said by a person one should listen to or take into consideration in their life especially negative things
I like the bear story because it shows no matter how lost you become from you identity, at one point in your life you will find your way back to yourself.
I agree with Kevin..That was clever observation
I also agree with Jack Howarth, with the wording and artwork of this story was amazing and how they used a bear to represent a person that doesn't fit in the society.
For me, the bear story showed how easy it is for society to influence your perception of yourself. Even when the bear was so sure of who and what he was, once he had others telling him he was wrong he began to question himself. I think Tashlin is telling the human race that we need to not let other's perception of ourselves influence our self identity.
I agree with Kevin's comment about being yourself. I think that not letting other's stop you from doing what you want to do and being who you want to be is an important aspect of this story.
I liked the bear story because I found that it easily relates to this generation. The story shows how people tend to be defined by society, especially people of higher ranking, rather than by themselves. Instead of people being unique and showing individuality, some people try to fit into a group and let others control who they are. Since the bear is repeatedly told that it in fact is not a bear, he starts to doubt himself so much that he believes what all the other people are saying. I think this shows how it is so easy for people to lose their true identity when instead they should be staying true to who they are. I really liked how Kevin brought up the use of a bear rather than a puppy because that aspect of the story never caught my attention and he made a really good point about that.
I did not like or dislike the bear story. I am neutral to it. It shows that identity is not who you actually are identity is what your percieved as. You can be different from your identity.
I liked the bear story because it displayed the problems a lot of people have in everyday life, in a very creative and effective way. I think it's very common that some people change their own identities in order to fit in with a particular group of people. Also, the story showed how if someone keeps hearing negative things about themselves repeatedly, they sometimes start believing it themselves. I agree with Jack in that it was very creative to use a bear to illustrate problems some people have in society, rather than a regular human.
I enjoyed the bear story because it showed how easily someone can lose their identity. The bear was told by multiple people that he was not a bear because he was not where bears "should be" and eventually he believed it. He finally found his identity after sitting out in the dead of winter. People should not just follow what other people think, they need to be whoever they really are.
I agree with Kevin. You need to be able to think for yourself and find out what you really are and what you want to do. No body knows you as much as yourself.
I think that the Bear story is really important to show in a simpler way how society impacts an individual over time. No matter how sure you are of who you are and what you believe, society repeatedly tells us we are wrong to think and to be who we are. Until we truly believe that we were wrong all along. The ending is key for the meaning the author was going for because the bear chooses to be who he originally was to be happy, instead of conforming to society and being miserable.
I agree with Anna, The bear was so aware of who he was but after being told he was wrong by multiple people, he loses faith in who he believed he was.
I really liked the bear story because the bear tried to stay true to himself for as long as possible. I think that’s rather important because he believed in what he thought. He did not automatically give into what other people were saying about him. I think that this shows society that you have to believe in what you think and not think or give into what others say.
I agree with Colleen in that society continues to tell us that we are wrong. It’s a sad thing because it essentially takes away in the individuality that makes everyone unique.
I liked the bear story because it showed how easily people can let other people effect the identity and change who they are.
I think that the bear story was meant to show that its difficult to stand up for your own beliefs when they contradict the opinions of the group. This is an important message. I agree with Jack in saying that the Bear served as a unique way to get this message across.
I enjoyed the bear story because it showed the problems a lot of people face. It had a deep meaning even though it was a picture book. It's difficult to stand up for yourself or be your own person when everyone is going against you and doesn't agree or like that you may not fit in with society. I agree with Jeff in the senese that a lot of people can easily be effected by what other people say about them, and not stand up for themselves as much as other people may. Overal i enjoyed the story and liked the message it sent.
I really liked the bear story too. I felt that it represented how you can lose your own identity if you listen to what other people say about you. I felt like one of the biggest message of the story was to use your voice and stand up for yourself. Even though the bear tried doing so at first, he eventually gave up and went with the flow. Poor bear :( .
I also agree with Danielle, that it's not about listening to what others have to say about you. You have to essentially fight for your voice to be hear. Don't give in to what others have to say about you. :)
I really liked the message that the bear story conveyed. As a society, we are always trying to figure each other out. When something that is out of the ordinary occurs, such as a bear walking around a factory, people try to make sense of the situation in whatever way possible. This has led to society’s obsession with stereotypes. Pigeonholing people into certain groups, such as jock or nerd, is easier than viewing each person as an individual. This is a dangerous practice that we have all experienced. In one way or another, we have fallen victim to stereotyping, and we have been guilty of generalizing as well. The bear story acts as an important reminder to be steadfast in who you are as a person, but to also avoid the human tendency to paint with a broad brush.
I agree with Colleen. It is important for use to remain aware of the influence that society has over us. People like to think that they are impervious to peer pressure, but it's unrealistic to act as if the continued push from such a large group is not, at times, very difficult to overcome.
I liked this story because it shows the individuality of the bear. Even though every has told him that he is not a bear, he still believes he is. I also agree with Jack and Owen because I liked the use of the bear to represent the moral of the story.
I enjoyed reading the bear story because it really demonstrates the way many people tend to feel at some point in life. Although one may be confident in who they are, like the bear was, one stil has the power to lose their identity because of what others say. The bear knew he was clearly a bear but the opinions of his authorities caused him to doubt who he was.
I agree with Colleen that it is important to be happy in life and even if people doubt who you are you should believe in your self and be who you want to be.
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