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 7 - 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.
53 comments:
Kassandra Mangan
said...
I thought it was interesting how no one stopped to consider what the bear had to say or let the bear explain why he thought he was a bear. I think the bear should have been more assertive and maybe shown that he was in fact a bear, perhaps by growling or showing his claws.
I agree with Kassandra's post. The bear could have definitely tried to prove he was a bear in other ways. However, I wonder if this way would have been any more effective. Everyone seemed so close minded and had such a bias already based on the circumstances that I'm not sure if anything would have convinced them of his true identity.
I think this story represents the idea of identity really well and what society believes. People often get lost in what they want to be and forget who they actually are. In this case, the bear was told he was not a bear and questioned his own self-identity. The part about the zoo and circus was interesting because they thought if he really was a bear, he had to be in one of those two places which is not always true, but is what society believes.
The story The Bear That Wasn’t was a sociological look at the way society works to shape its individuals. When the bear was by himself he knew who he was, a bear. When he appeared in the factory nobody believed that he was a bear because bears are supposed to be caged or belong to the circus. Since the bear didn’t fit their criteria for being or acting like a bear he couldn’t possibly be one. Everyone the bear encountered told him that he was just a man in a fur coat that needed a shave. By the bear started to believe that he actually wasn’t a bear. The problem was that he didn’t know how to act like a man in a fur coat that needed a shave. So finally at the end when he was alone again, he realized the only thing he knew how to be was a bear, and therefor he was a bear. Without all the pressure of people telling him who he was or wasn’t, he was able to be himself. I think this connects to what Mr. Gallagher was saying about how we become a different version of ourselves once we leave for our houses for school in the morning. When we have no one to judge or criticize us and we can be who we are. This is very different from when we are at school where we have reputations and expectations set by society to uphold which whether we realize it or not, transforms us into someone else.
I agree with Kelsey. I think it is so easy for us to forget who we really are because we are so concerned about what everyone else wants to be. Just because he wasn't in the cage or in the circus meant that he wasn't a bear confused me because there are other reasons that they didn't even think of.
I thought that it was interesting that the bear was only able to regain his true identity when he was by himself and away from the influence of society. If he had chosen to stay at the factory, I don't think that he would have been able to do this.
I think the story The Bear that was a really good example of how people can get lost in who they really are and they can start to believe what others tell them even when they know it’s not true. I think this story really shows how society really is. It shows how so many people just lose their identity throughout their life and become a completely different person with different views because tried to fit in and they’ve lost who they really are. I think this book was a very good example of how people get caught up in the world and lose their self-identity.
I agree with what Emily said. I think it is a really good point that the bear was only able to figure out who he really was once he was alone and away from the people.
The bear that wasn't says a lot about how people any where and every where are constantly trying to fit this mold society has build. Society never takes into consideration how the individual feels. Suppose you came from another country and now all you have come to be is being questioned and people tell to be a certain way you slowly star to lose your well... "youness" just like the bear started to. I also agree with Kassandra on how nobody gave the bear a chance to prove himself and to show them that he was a bear.
I think that the most important thing to take out of the bear that wasn’t is that no matter how many people try to tell you who to be, how to act, or who you aren’t, you should always be true to yourself. The bear was told that he was just a man with a fur coat on over and over again but he kept on telling people that he is a bear. Throughout almost the entire book the bear never believed these people who were telling him that he was a bear until he finally had a feeling of doubt of who he was and did believe that he wasn’t a bear. This just shows that you have to be true to who you are and not change yourself to fit other people’s ideas of who you should be, look like, or act like.
I found it very hard to take in that the bear would eventually think that he was not a bear after everyone had told him so. I think this shows that society has this real hold over people and that individuals are not strong enough to hold on to their views of themselves but are moldable to society's opinions. I wish that the story didn't end the way it did but it just shows that we as individuals have to be sure of who we are and not what society thinks we are.
I agree with Margo, the most important thing to take out of this is being true to yourself and knowing who you are inside. You should not change yourself for anyone else or to fit in.
I think Kassandra makes a really good point of how no one considered what the bear had to say and why he thought he was a bear and that the bear should have been more assertive, with convincing the other bears and vice presidents, that he was in fact a bear. In society I feel like people make judgments about other people without ever knowing them or even talking to them, so they have their own personal view of who someone is when that person might not even be like that. There is no reason for this person to make judgments and jump right to conclusions about someone without even talking to the other person and hearing what they have to say. The other bears and vice presidents jumped to the conclusion that the bear wasn’t a bear, that he was just a man in a fur coat who needed to shave.
I think Kassandra makes a really good point of how no one considered what the bear had to say and why he thought he was a bear and that the bear should have been more assertive, with convincing the other bears and vice presidents, that he was in fact a bear. In society I feel like people make judgments about other people without ever knowing them or even talking to them, so they have their own personal view of who someone is when that person might not even be like that. There is no reason for this person to make judgments and jump right to conclusions about someone without even talking to the other person and hearing what they have to say. The other bears and vice presidents jumped to the conclusion that the bear wasn’t a bear, that he was just a man in a fur coat who needed to shave.
I agree with Emily because if the bear had stayed at the factory, the pressures of people would have still been around him. If he was really true in his own identity, I would like to believe that he would have known who he was even with everyone around.
This story hilights the instances of prejudice. It reminds me of how America treated the Native Americans; we took over their land and then forced them to assimilate, destroying their identity. I think the story emphasizes the harsh truths about the world in which we all live. Many times, a simple rumor can hurt one's reputation and identity. By all the powerful officials in the factory telling the bear that he was a silly man who needs to shave and wears a fur coat,the bear eventually started to believe it. It could have led him to death in the winter, too,when he didn't hibernate. It also reminds me of the holocaust how even those being persecuted would turn friends in, in an attempt to escape the troubles on their own.
I disagree with Kassandra. I don't think that intimidation would be appropraite. By the bear growling or showing his claws, he would have been a bully just as much as the factory officials.
The bear that wasn't was simply a story about a bear who was trying to get back to where he belongs. I honestly thought it was pathetic when these people all went off about how he was only a silly man who needed a shave when he was actually a bear. It really showed how today's society doesn't care about what the person is saying about themselves, they only care about what they think about the person, and that is the end of their discussion. It showed that people only think inside their boxes, and don't budge to branch out of that, and when they do, it doesn't last for very long.
I agree with what Catie said. It only takes a few people to start thinking something, and eventually they will get an entire group, in this case the entire factory, to think the same way as them. Then eventually the bear started to agree with them, and almost died in the winter, when he should/could have been hibernating.
I think the most important thing to take from The Bear That Wasn't is that you should always remember to be true to yourself. In the story it does not matter whether or not the bear really is a bear or not. Even if he was just a man in a fur coat that needed a shave, being a bear was the only thing that made him happy. I think that the message of this story is that if you know who you want to be, then you should go out and be that person, no matter what anyone tells you.
I agree with Jess. It is really hard to think that the bear would eventually believe that he was not a bear. It is also troubling to think about how the story is supposed to model ourselves and that maybe you or me or anyone thinks that they are someone who they are not because people told them that.
I think this story focuses a lot on society and how it affects everyone. Just because the bear was at the factory, the foreman automatically made the assumption that the bear was actually a man. After the foreman talked to the third vice president and so on, everyone agreed with the original judgement that the bear was a man, solely based on what everyone else was saying and what the bear looked like. This relates a lot to society because people make certain judgements about others without actually knowing them. Ultimately I think it was important that the bear was able to be comfortable with who he was, even afer everyone had told him otherwise. I think this goes to show that despite what society may say, you should always stay true to what you know and believe in.
I agree with Greg. I think the point about staying true to who you are is really important because everything would be the same if everyone conformed to society and what others said. I also think that what you said about how it doesn't matter if he was actually a bear or not is interesting. Even if someone does something that no one else is doing, it can be a good thing because they are at least being differet from the rest of society and doing things that they know and believe in.
I think that the story a “bear that wasn’t” did a great job bringing to life a huge social issue. I loved how such a simple story had such a strong message. I think Tashlin did a fantastic job illustrating the identity struggle that most humans face on a day to day basis without realizing it.This book really made me think after reading it. At first I thought well that’s a cute story with a great message, but the more I began to think about it, the more I began to realize that this is a huge issue that I witness every day. Just walking around the halls of WHS you can see how most if not everyone is trying to fit it. It truly saddens me to think that some people will do anything to just fit in.
In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear encountered many people, all negating his statement of “I am a bear” because they couldn’t place him in any group they deemed “normal”. Each time the bear would become more and more confused and by the end he didn’t know who or what he was; he lost his identity. The bear’s own opinion had no effect because the others’ out numbered his. I think that it is very hard to grasp the idea of completely losing one’s identity because of other’s prejudices. I wish that the bear had defended itself in some way, but if it had done so, would only cause more conflict. The idea of staying true to oneself is much harder than it seems, because it’s extremely difficult to do that with so many influences taking place. This relates to real-life situations, because in any conflicting situation, an individual will struggle to maintain their identity in a large group, and deal with the struggle to fit the “status quo”.
This story shows how people in society can lose their identities just by what others have to say. Alot of people are effected greatly by what others think of them. The bear was told by multiple people that he was a normal person, which made him start to believe that he was normal, and wasn't the unique bear that he was. People want others to like them, and approve of them. SOmetimes, they will go to drastic measures to try and impress them, in order to "fit in". People have to stay true to themselves, and have their own thoughts and opinions, and not be so shocked when someone doesn't "approve" of them.
I completely agree with Emily and was thinking the same thing myself. I found it extremely interesting that once the bear was alone he was okay with becoming a bear again. I think this can be found in our society today. For example who you are in class is not necessarily who you are when you are out on your own or with friends. It’s strange how someone can pretend to be something they’re not for a little while but when they’re alone they find themselves again.
I agree with Samantha. Often times when people fit into a certain group it is hard to be an individual if everyone else is doing something different. The important thing to remember from this is that they can belong to a group, but that does not mean their individuality should be compromised. So no matter what society says they must be like, that should not take away from who they truly are.
I agree with Kassandra. The bear should have stuck up for himself rather than let others decide their judgments before the bear explained himself. In the bear's defense, the people didn't let him show them what he really was. He only had time to say that he was a bear and they didn't have the time to listen to anything else. This shows how selfish people and society can be; they couldn't take the few seconds to let the bear speak.
To Catie, by showing his class and growling, I didn't really mean that as intimidation I just meant he should have shown some proof that he was in fact a bear. By just listening to the others and saying but I'm a bear did prove to the others that he was a bear it also allowed for the bear to start losing his own identity.
I think this story really made me think about myself, who I am, and how society has shaped my identity. The story "The Bear That Wasn't" portrayed how the bear was affected by what society was telling him and it affected his identity and his beliefs. I think it accurately showed how a group of people can be overpowering on one person. It taught me that I don't have to prove that I am myself to anybody other than to myself. I need to believe in myself and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I enjoyed reading this story and thought it was quite the eye-opener.
I agree with what Margo said about being true to yourself. I feel that the bear learned that it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks, what matters was that he learned more about himself that day than anybody could ever tell him. Being true to yourself and believing in yourself should be accomplished before trusting others and trying to fit in. Margo made a good point by saying that your identity should not be altered based upon what others say about you.
I believe that the book we read in class titled The Bear That Wasn't is a good representation of how powerful people in this society views people with less power. Tashlin does a good job of incorporating a simple picture book into a meaningful story that deals with a current issue that us humans deal with everyday - trying to fit into what society deems as good or right. This story is very simple to understand, yet it paints a very big picture. This book teaches the reader the importance of knowing who you are regardless of what others may say. It teaches a lesson to young people about themselves without preaching, and even uses humor. Overall i think that this book teaches a lot about ourselves and is very accurate to say the least.
I agree with what Kara said about how people only think inside their own boxes and don't care about who people really are deep down or even bother to branch out. I think Kara is right about how it is a good representation of today's society in 2013 because like i said before, it's pretty accurate and most people can relate to a story like this.
I thought the story of The Bear that Wasn't was especially interesting because it can apply to anyone. No matter how old you are, or who you are everyone feels judged or insecure at one time or another. And its really interesting how each person takes something different away from this story. Whether it's a girl trying to fit in with a group of girls. Or just somebody who has a different opinion then someone.
I agree with Kassandra. No one did let the bear say anything, adn it was becasue he was out numbered and had a different mind set then the majority, which in this case was everyone else the bear came in contact with, which I think was very strong of the bear.
The story was an allegory to the way society at large will look upon an individual's circumstances and attempt to fit him/her into the corresponding mold, aka the stereotype; if a person does not fit the stereotype associated with who they claim to be, they will be dismissed as rebellious and obstinate. The ending was, personally speaking, a rather optimistic way of looking at things; I have rarely seen an individual who actually kept their identity, even at the last minute (as the bear did). If the story had ended with said bear freezing to death it would have been more accurate as a social critique, as cynical as that may sound.
I agree with Michayla--and, to an extent, the general consensus--that staying true to oneself is much more difficult than it seems, especially when considering what "oneself" truly is. For the bear, there were predetermined traits he could look to, but the line between "oneself" and "one's own perception as formed by the circumstances around them" can become incredibly blurred; life-changing experiences change a person's identity as much as they do his or her life.
I definitely agree with Miranda in that, everyone can relate to the story of “The Bear Who Wasn’t” because people face the problem of rejection every day. Especially as young adults trying to find their place in the world, it is so easy to feel confused about ones identity and about who they are and what they stand for. This is because people feel the need to be liked and accepted even if their thoughts or interests are completely different from that of the people they feel they must be like. Everyday people try to change themselves for something or someone else without even realizing it.
It has been mentioned many times that this story concerns society and one’s overall struggle with “fitting in”, but I wanted to point out the idea that this struggle is inevitable, as it is only human nature to conform and change for the environment around us. People have been conforming to society forever and this is something that will not change. It is sad and almost stressful to watch the bear go through such a struggle just to convince the others of who he was. It is even sadder to realize this is something everyone struggles with everyday. It is clear that the bear knows who he is, and all he wants is for others to accept that. However, when they entirely deny him of his identity, he starts to lose it himself. This is a metaphor for the ways of human nature and how easily we are overcome by the things we are told.
The commentary in "The Bear That Wasn't" is clear, in that Tashlin is demonstrating how society influences individuals to the point of completely changing their identity. I strongly agree with this, and something that I think is important to note is the effect that society had on the bear when he was confronted with the conditions of his original identity. Finally back in the forest after years at the factory, the bear was unable to grasp that he truly was a bear, because he took to heart what people were suggesting about him instead of staying true to himself. Through this, Tashlin demonstrates how society's influence can have a lasting effect on an individual, to the point where that individual has completely lost all traces of their true self.
The message that I took from this book was that somebody’s surroundings do not define who that person is. It does not matter where you live, work, or go to school, because even though these places come with stereotypes, everybody is an individual. I was absent the day that this book was read, but from what I have gathered it’s about listening to yourself and what you believe in, and not what everybody around you says to try and convince you otherwise, regardless of their authority ranking.
I think what Koya said about "life-changing experiences" changing one's identity just as much as one's life is very interesting, and extremely true. Whether or not that change in identity is for the better is subject to interpretation, but I think that it is something we have all been through. Our past shapes who we are today, whether we like it or not. And, just like the bear, we may not realize the degree to which our experiences have changed us.
I agree with Ellery’s post. Tashlin does a great job using a simple concept to portray a big picture that exists throughout the entire world. This book says a lot about power, ranking, and authority. It does not matter where you stand in terms of power, because that does not make one person’s say any better than another person’s opinion in any way. So often in today’s society we are forced to think that people with the most money, or the best educations know more than someone without money and education.
The overall message I received from “The Bear That Wasn’t”, was that society judges people on the way they look and not who they really are. In my opinion you can compare the story to real life. If people do not believe in the same ideas as society, then they will be looked at differently. Today, students at different schools act a certain way in order to fit into a certain group. These students would not try to fit in if they did not care about how other students judged them.
I agree with Cameron who stated that the author believed Tashlin demonstrates how societal influences can change a person’s identity. Once the bear left the factory and went into the forest he questioned his true identity in that he really was a bear. This is why people in America need to stick to what they believe in and not what others make them believe.
I thought that it was interesting how easily the bear was put down by other people and how quickly he believed that he wasnt a bear. I think that this story depicts the way that society is today. I think often times people lose their true selves becuase of the way that other people treat them or act around them.
This story represents the Bear's struggle to find and keep his identity from being corrupted by outside forces. It is a mirror to what most people have to go through at least once in their lives. For the most part I think the Bear handled himself pretty well for the majority of the story, constantly telling everyone that he was in fact bear. Only at the end did he crack and started to assume that he needed a shave and wore a fur coat.
I thought the story was interesting because the bear was told what he was even though he was clearly not. And although he fought hard for his own identity in a boring world, he(the bear) eventually gave in to the peer pressure and believed what he was called.
I disagree with Kassandra and Daniel in some ways. I thought the bear was assertive enough. He was calm when being yelled at by everyone around him. I think that the bear should go against what society believes whether or not he is accepted into society.
53 comments:
I thought it was interesting how no one stopped to consider what the bear had to say or let the bear explain why he thought he was a bear. I think the bear should have been more assertive and maybe shown that he was in fact a bear, perhaps by growling or showing his claws.
I agree with Kassandra's post. The bear could have definitely tried to prove he was a bear in other ways. However, I wonder if this way would have been any more effective. Everyone seemed so close minded and had such a bias already based on the circumstances that I'm not sure if anything would have convinced them of his true identity.
I think this story represents the idea of identity really well and what society believes. People often get lost in what they want to be and forget who they actually are. In this case, the bear was told he was not a bear and questioned his own self-identity. The part about the zoo and circus was interesting because they thought if he really was a bear, he had to be in one of those two places which is not always true, but is what society believes.
The story The Bear That Wasn’t was a sociological look at the way society works to shape its individuals. When the bear was by himself he knew who he was, a bear. When he appeared in the factory nobody believed that he was a bear because bears are supposed to be caged or belong to the circus. Since the bear didn’t fit their criteria for being or acting like a bear he couldn’t possibly be one. Everyone the bear encountered told him that he was just a man in a fur coat that needed a shave. By the bear started to believe that he actually wasn’t a bear. The problem was that he didn’t know how to act like a man in a fur coat that needed a shave. So finally at the end when he was alone again, he realized the only thing he knew how to be was a bear, and therefor he was a bear. Without all the pressure of people telling him who he was or wasn’t, he was able to be himself. I think this connects to what Mr. Gallagher was saying about how we become a different version of ourselves once we leave for our houses for school in the morning. When we have no one to judge or criticize us and we can be who we are. This is very different from when we are at school where we have reputations and expectations set by society to uphold which whether we realize it or not, transforms us into someone else.
I agree with Kelsey. I think it is so easy for us to forget who we really are because we are so concerned about what everyone else wants to be. Just because he wasn't in the cage or in the circus meant that he wasn't a bear confused me because there are other reasons that they didn't even think of.
I thought that it was interesting that the bear was only able to regain his true identity when he was by himself and away from the influence of society. If he had chosen to stay at the factory, I don't think that he would have been able to do this.
I think the story The Bear that was a really good example of how people can get lost in who they really are and they can start to believe what others tell them even when they know it’s not true. I think this story really shows how society really is. It shows how so many people just lose their identity throughout their life and become a completely different person with different views because tried to fit in and they’ve lost who they really are. I think this book was a very good example of how people get caught up in the world and lose their self-identity.
I agree with what Emily said. I think it is a really good point that the bear was only able to figure out who he really was once he was alone and away from the people.
The bear that wasn't says a lot about how people any where and every where are constantly trying to fit this mold society has build. Society never takes into consideration how the individual feels. Suppose you came from another country and now all you have come to be is being questioned and people tell to be a certain way you slowly star to lose your well... "youness" just like the bear started to. I also agree with Kassandra on how nobody gave the bear a chance to prove himself and to show them that he was a bear.
I think that the most important thing to take out of the bear that wasn’t is that no matter how many people try to tell you who to be, how to act, or who you aren’t, you should always be true to yourself. The bear was told that he was just a man with a fur coat on over and over again but he kept on telling people that he is a bear. Throughout almost the entire book the bear never believed these people who were telling him that he was a bear until he finally had a feeling of doubt of who he was and did believe that he wasn’t a bear. This just shows that you have to be true to who you are and not change yourself to fit other people’s ideas of who you should be, look like, or act like.
I found it very hard to take in that the bear would eventually think that he was not a bear after everyone had told him so. I think this shows that society has this real hold over people and that individuals are not strong enough to hold on to their views of themselves but are moldable to society's opinions. I wish that the story didn't end the way it did but it just shows that we as individuals have to be sure of who we are and not what society thinks we are.
I agree with Margo, the most important thing to take out of this is being true to yourself and knowing who you are inside. You should not change yourself for anyone else or to fit in.
I think Kassandra makes a really good point of how no one considered what the bear had to say and why he thought he was a bear and that the bear should have been more assertive, with convincing the other bears and vice presidents, that he was in fact a bear. In society I feel like people make judgments about other people without ever knowing them or even talking to them, so they have their own personal view of who someone is when that person might not even be like that. There is no reason for this person to make judgments and jump right to conclusions about someone without even talking to the other person and hearing what they have to say. The other bears and vice presidents jumped to the conclusion that the bear wasn’t a bear, that he was just a man in a fur coat who needed to shave.
I think Kassandra makes a really good point of how no one considered what the bear had to say and why he thought he was a bear and that the bear should have been more assertive, with convincing the other bears and vice presidents, that he was in fact a bear. In society I feel like people make judgments about other people without ever knowing them or even talking to them, so they have their own personal view of who someone is when that person might not even be like that. There is no reason for this person to make judgments and jump right to conclusions about someone without even talking to the other person and hearing what they have to say. The other bears and vice presidents jumped to the conclusion that the bear wasn’t a bear, that he was just a man in a fur coat who needed to shave.
I agree with Emily because if the bear had stayed at the factory, the pressures of people would have still been around him. If he was really true in his own identity, I would like to believe that he would have known who he was even with everyone around.
This story hilights the instances of prejudice. It reminds me of how America treated the Native Americans; we took over their land and then forced them to assimilate, destroying their identity. I think the story emphasizes the harsh truths about the world in which we all live. Many times, a simple rumor can hurt one's reputation and identity. By all the powerful officials in the factory telling the bear that he was a silly man who needs to shave and wears a fur coat,the bear eventually started to believe it. It could have led him to death in the winter, too,when he didn't hibernate. It also reminds me of the holocaust how even those being persecuted would turn friends in, in an attempt to escape the troubles on their own.
I disagree with Kassandra. I don't think that intimidation would be appropraite. By the bear growling or showing his claws, he would have been a bully just as much as the factory officials.
The bear that wasn't was simply a story about a bear who was trying to get back to where he belongs. I honestly thought it was pathetic when these people all went off about how he was only a silly man who needed a shave when he was actually a bear. It really showed how today's society doesn't care about what the person is saying about themselves, they only care about what they think about the person, and that is the end of their discussion. It showed that people only think inside their boxes, and don't budge to branch out of that, and when they do, it doesn't last for very long.
I agree with what Catie said. It only takes a few people to start thinking something, and eventually they will get an entire group, in this case the entire factory, to think the same way as them. Then eventually the bear started to agree with them, and almost died in the winter, when he should/could have been hibernating.
I think the most important thing to take from The Bear That Wasn't is that you should always remember to be true to yourself. In the story it does not matter whether or not the bear really is a bear or not. Even if he was just a man in a fur coat that needed a shave, being a bear was the only thing that made him happy. I think that the message of this story is that if you know who you want to be, then you should go out and be that person, no matter what anyone tells you.
I agree with Jess. It is really hard to think that the bear would eventually believe that he was not a bear. It is also troubling to think about how the story is supposed to model ourselves and that maybe you or me or anyone thinks that they are someone who they are not because people told them that.
I think this story focuses a lot on society and how it affects everyone. Just because the bear was at the factory, the foreman automatically made the assumption that the bear was actually a man. After the foreman talked to the third vice president and so on, everyone agreed with the original judgement that the bear was a man, solely based on what everyone else was saying and what the bear looked like. This relates a lot to society because people make certain judgements about others without actually knowing them. Ultimately I think it was important that the bear was able to be comfortable with who he was, even afer everyone had told him otherwise. I think this goes to show that despite what society may say, you should always stay true to what you know and believe in.
I agree with Greg. I think the point about staying true to who you are is really important because everything would be the same if everyone conformed to society and what others said. I also think that what you said about how it doesn't matter if he was actually a bear or not is interesting. Even if someone does something that no one else is doing, it can be a good thing because they are at least being differet from the rest of society and doing things that they know and believe in.
I think that the story a “bear that wasn’t” did a great job bringing to life a huge social issue. I loved how such a simple story had such a strong message. I think Tashlin did a fantastic job illustrating the identity struggle that most humans face on a day to day basis without realizing it.This book really made me think after reading it. At first I thought well that’s a cute story with a great message, but the more I began to think about it, the more I began to realize that this is a huge issue that I witness every day. Just walking around the halls of WHS you can see how most if not everyone is trying to fit it. It truly saddens me to think that some people will do anything to just fit in.
In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear encountered many people, all negating his statement of “I am a bear” because they couldn’t place him in any group they deemed “normal”. Each time the bear would become more and more confused and by the end he didn’t know who or what he was; he lost his identity. The bear’s own opinion had no effect because the others’ out numbered his. I think that it is very hard to grasp the idea of completely losing one’s identity because of other’s prejudices. I wish that the bear had defended itself in some way, but if it had done so, would only cause more conflict. The idea of staying true to oneself is much harder than it seems, because it’s extremely difficult to do that with so many influences taking place. This relates to real-life situations, because in any conflicting situation, an individual will struggle to maintain their identity in a large group, and deal with the struggle to fit the “status quo”.
This story shows how people in society can lose their identities just by what others have to say. Alot of people are effected greatly by what others think of them. The bear was told by multiple people that he was a normal person, which made him start to believe that he was normal, and wasn't the unique bear that he was. People want others to like them, and approve of them. SOmetimes, they will go to drastic measures to try and impress them, in order to "fit in". People have to stay true to themselves, and have their own thoughts and opinions, and not be so shocked when someone doesn't "approve" of them.
I completely agree with Emily and was thinking the same thing myself. I found it extremely interesting that once the bear was alone he was okay with becoming a bear again. I think this can be found in our society today. For example who you are in class is not necessarily who you are when you are out on your own or with friends. It’s strange how someone can pretend to be something they’re not for a little while but when they’re alone they find themselves again.
I agree with Samantha. Focus on what you believe in, not what others do.
I agree with Samantha. Often times when people fit into a certain group it is hard to be an individual if everyone else is doing something different. The important thing to remember from this is that they can belong to a group, but that does not mean their individuality should be compromised. So no matter what society says they must be like, that should not take away from who they truly are.
I agree with Kassandra. The bear should have stuck up for himself rather than let others decide their judgments before the bear explained himself. In the bear's defense, the people didn't let him show them what he really was. He only had time to say that he was a bear and they didn't have the time to listen to anything else. This shows how selfish people and society can be; they couldn't take the few seconds to let the bear speak.
To Catie, by showing his class and growling, I didn't really mean that as intimidation I just meant he should have shown some proof that he was in fact a bear. By just listening to the others and saying but I'm a bear did prove to the others that he was a bear it also allowed for the bear to start losing his own identity.
I think this story really made me think about myself, who I am, and how society has shaped my identity. The story "The Bear That Wasn't" portrayed how the bear was affected by what society was telling him and it affected his identity and his beliefs. I think it accurately showed how a group of people can be overpowering on one person. It taught me that I don't have to prove that I am myself to anybody other than to myself. I need to believe in myself and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I enjoyed reading this story and thought it was quite the eye-opener.
I agree with what Margo said about being true to yourself. I feel that the bear learned that it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks, what matters was that he learned more about himself that day than anybody could ever tell him. Being true to yourself and believing in yourself should be accomplished before trusting others and trying to fit in. Margo made a good point by saying that your identity should not be altered based upon what others say about you.
I believe that the book we read in class titled The Bear That Wasn't is a good representation of how powerful people in this society views people with less power. Tashlin does a good job of incorporating a simple picture book into a meaningful story that deals with a current issue that us humans deal with everyday - trying to fit into what society deems as good or right. This story is very simple to understand, yet it paints a very big picture. This book teaches the reader the importance of knowing who you are regardless of what others may say. It teaches a lesson to young people about themselves without preaching, and even uses humor. Overall i think that this book teaches a lot about ourselves and is very accurate to say the least.
I agree with what Kara said about how people only think inside their own boxes and don't care about who people really are deep down or even bother to branch out. I think Kara is right about how it is a good representation of today's society in 2013 because like i said before, it's pretty accurate and most people can relate to a story like this.
I thought the story of The Bear that Wasn't was especially interesting because it can apply to anyone. No matter how old you are, or who you are everyone feels judged or insecure at one time or another. And its really interesting how each person takes something different away from this story. Whether it's a girl trying to fit in with a group of girls. Or just somebody who has a different opinion then someone.
I agree with Kassandra. No one did let the bear say anything, adn it was becasue he was out numbered and had a different mind set then the majority, which in this case was everyone else the bear came in contact with, which I think was very strong of the bear.
The story was an allegory to the way society at large will look upon an individual's circumstances and attempt to fit him/her into the corresponding mold, aka the stereotype; if a person does not fit the stereotype associated with who they claim to be, they will be dismissed as rebellious and obstinate. The ending was, personally speaking, a rather optimistic way of looking at things; I have rarely seen an individual who actually kept their identity, even at the last minute (as the bear did). If the story had ended with said bear freezing to death it would have been more accurate as a social critique, as cynical as that may sound.
I agree with Michayla--and, to an extent, the general consensus--that staying true to oneself is much more difficult than it seems, especially when considering what "oneself" truly is. For the bear, there were predetermined traits he could look to, but the line between "oneself" and "one's own perception as formed by the circumstances around them" can become incredibly blurred; life-changing experiences change a person's identity as much as they do his or her life.
I definitely agree with Miranda in that, everyone can relate to the story of “The Bear Who Wasn’t” because people face the problem of rejection every day. Especially as young adults trying to find their place in the world, it is so easy to feel confused about ones identity and about who they are and what they stand for. This is because people feel the need to be liked and accepted even if their thoughts or interests are completely different from that of the people they feel they must be like. Everyday people try to change themselves for something or someone else without even realizing it.
It has been mentioned many times that this story concerns society and one’s overall struggle with “fitting in”, but I wanted to point out the idea that this struggle is inevitable, as it is only human nature to conform and change for the environment around us. People have been conforming to society forever and this is something that will not change. It is sad and almost stressful to watch the bear go through such a struggle just to convince the others of who he was. It is even sadder to realize this is something everyone struggles with everyday. It is clear that the bear knows who he is, and all he wants is for others to accept that. However, when they entirely deny him of his identity, he starts to lose it himself. This is a metaphor for the ways of human nature and how easily we are overcome by the things we are told.
The commentary in "The Bear That Wasn't" is clear, in that Tashlin is demonstrating how society influences individuals to the point of completely changing their identity. I strongly agree with this, and something that I think is important to note is the effect that society had on the bear when he was confronted with the conditions of his original identity. Finally back in the forest after years at the factory, the bear was unable to grasp that he truly was a bear, because he took to heart what people were suggesting about him instead of staying true to himself. Through this, Tashlin demonstrates how society's influence can have a lasting effect on an individual, to the point where that individual has completely lost all traces of their true self.
The message that I took from this book was that somebody’s surroundings do not define who that person is. It does not matter where you live, work, or go to school, because even though these places come with stereotypes, everybody is an individual. I was absent the day that this book was read, but from what I have gathered it’s about listening to yourself and what you believe in, and not what everybody around you says to try and convince you otherwise, regardless of their authority ranking.
I think what Koya said about "life-changing experiences" changing one's identity just as much as one's life is very interesting, and extremely true. Whether or not that change in identity is for the better is subject to interpretation, but I think that it is something we have all been through. Our past shapes who we are today, whether we like it or not. And, just like the bear, we may not realize the degree to which our experiences have changed us.
I agree with Ellery’s post. Tashlin does a great job using a simple concept to portray a big picture that exists throughout the entire world. This book says a lot about power, ranking, and authority. It does not matter where you stand in terms of power, because that does not make one person’s say any better than another person’s opinion in any way. So often in today’s society we are forced to think that people with the most money, or the best educations know more than someone without money and education.
The overall message I received from “The Bear That Wasn’t”, was that society judges people on the way they look and not who they really are. In my opinion you can compare the story to real life. If people do not believe in the same ideas as society, then they will be looked at differently. Today, students at different schools act a certain way in order to fit into a certain group. These students would not try to fit in if they did not care about how other students judged them.
I agree with Cameron who stated that the author believed Tashlin demonstrates how societal influences can change a person’s identity. Once the bear left the factory and went into the forest he questioned his true identity in that he really was a bear. This is why people in America need to stick to what they believe in and not what others make them believe.
I thought that it was interesting how easily the bear was put down by other people and how quickly he believed that he wasnt a bear. I think that this story depicts the way that society is today. I think often times people lose their true selves becuase of the way that other people treat them or act around them.
I agree with Emily, I also thought it was interesting how the bear needed to be alone to regain his identity.
This story represents the Bear's struggle to find and keep his identity from being corrupted by outside forces. It is a mirror to what most people have to go through at least once in their lives. For the most part I think the Bear handled himself pretty well for the majority of the story, constantly telling everyone that he was in fact bear. Only at the end did he crack and started to assume that he needed a shave and wore a fur coat.
I agree with Kassandra the Bear definatly needed to be more assertive and say a little more to prove that he really was a bear.
I thought the story was interesting because the bear was told what he was even though he was clearly not. And although he fought hard for his own identity in a boring world, he(the bear) eventually gave in to the peer pressure and believed what he was called.
I disagree with Kassandra and Daniel in some ways. I thought the bear was assertive enough. He was calm when being yelled at by everyone around him. I think that the bear should go against what society believes whether or not he is accepted into society.
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