Questions for "The Bear that Wasn't" Discussion
- What does the title The Bear That Wasn’t mean? Why
didn’t the Factory officials recognize the Bear for what he was? Why did
it become harder and harder for him to maintain his identity as he
moved through the bureaucracy of the Factory? What is Tashlin suggesting
about the relationship between an individual and society? About the way
a person’s identity is defined? About the way powerful individuals and
groups shape the identity of those with less power and authority?
- How
does our need to be a part of a group affect our actions? Why is it so
difficult for a person to go against the group? Have you ever
experienced a similar problem to that of the Bear? How did you deal with
it? Were you able to maintain your independence? How difficult was it
to do so?
Other Homework:
- Read pages 9-30 in Voices of the Holocaust. For the "creating context" section, take 2-column notes, where the left side is main ideas and the right side is for details and/or examples about that idea. For each reading after that, make a DJ by picking a passage--a longer quotation of 4-8 sentences, approximately--and analyzing it. Be sure to expand your ideas beyond summary and reader response to include some thoughts about the larger significance and implications of the text. Due Friday 09/30.
If the blog will not allow you to post a comment, type your response and bring it to class.
The title "The Bear That Wasn't" means the bear that wasn't what the people thought he was. The factory officials didn't recongzie him as a bear because they thought the bear is just look for excuse to avoid working, also they jumped to conclusion so fast based on he came out of a factory. It became harder and harder because there is much more people against him.Tashlin is suggesting the society indentifies an individual by his/her appearance, and as time goes on, it becomes the indentity for that individual. Powerful individuals and groups can get more followers because they have more power and more authority.
ReplyDeleteOur need to be a part of a group makes us to do what others do, because we all afraid of being different from others. People would automatically follows and do what the majority of others do. Therefore, it is so diffcult for one individual to go against a group that with more power. I have experienced a similar problem before. I didn't accept the fact that many people thinks I am Korean based on my look. Every time I walk in a Korean restaurant, the waiters would start speaking Korean to me. I would tell them that I am not Korean, I am Chinese. It is frustrating to correct them every time. But I am able to maintain my independence. It is not diffcule, but it takes a lot of paitience.
The title "The Bear That Wasn't" signifies what others viewed him as. He was a bear, but everyone just refused to see it. Its almost they were brainwashed into thinking otherwise. The factory officials didn't recognize that the bear was in fact a bear because of what society made them believe. It had been embedded in their minds that bears were only in zoos or circuses. It became harder and harder for the bear to maintain its identity as the time went by because everyone was always telling him that he wasn't a bear. He sadly even started to believe it himself. Tashlin is suggesting that society is what really defines you. Its like it puts you into a category that you are coerced into following. The bear is a great example of this. A person's identity is defined by what society has made other people believe. Powerful individuals can shape the identity of other people in either a positive or negative way. This occurs by their actions that create stereotypes for the lesser powerful individuals.
ReplyDeleteOur need to be a part of the group is our nature. Humans always feel the need to get recognition for what they do, and to fit in. Honestly, nobody wants to be alone or not have any friends, especially teenagers; which is why they always try to be a part of the "cool" crowd. It's usually very difficult for a person to go against the group because the group is always viewed as so powerful, and it can be intimidating. It takes a very strong person to go against the group. I have never really experienced anything similar to what the bear had to go through, and i hope i never will because i feel bad for him. But i think if something like that were to happen to me, i would maintain my identity because i know who i am and i wouldn't back down like the bear did.
The title “The Bear that Wasn’t” means that this story is about a bear that is in a situation where there is something going on that makes him not a bear. Later we find out that it is the fact that no one believes that he is a bear. The factory officials didn’t recognize the bear for who he was because in their minds, all bears are either in the circus or in the zoo. Since this bear was in neither the circus nor the zoo, he was not really a bear. As the bear moved through the bureaucracy of the factory, it was harder and harder for him to believe that he was a bear because one could tell that he was starting to accept the fact that he wasn’t a bear after being told it so many times. Tashlin is suggesting that society shapes an individual. Society kept telling the bear that he wasn’t really a bear and eventually he goes along with it. Tashlin is saying that an individual’s identity or belief about his or herself is defined by society. In the bear’s case, this might not have happened if those telling him that he was not a bear had so much power. Those with more power will try to control those with less power.
ReplyDeleteAs humans, we have a strong need to be a part of something. A lot of times we will do things that we would not normally do, just to be accepted into a group or into society. Going against the group that you want to be part of isn’t an option because they are usually more powerful than you. I have never experienced anything like that of the bear. If I was in that situation, I would try my best not to give in. I would maintain my independence and ignore the harsh effects of doing so. Depending on the situation, this might be a really difficult task to take on.
"The Bear that Wasn't" is an oxymoron but regardless essentially means a bear that is not treated or defined as a bear by others. The factory officials did not identify the bear by what he was but where he was ergo identifying him as a worker not a bear. It became more and more difficult to maintain his identity as he progressed through the executive tiers of the factory because as he went progressively more people denied him his identity. The author is suggesting that people define you not on your actions and personality but what they expect from you, others who look like you, and where you live, everything that's not you. People in power like to tell you who you are, what you're going to do and how you're going to do it because people with authority like to think their authority is so great that they have the right to tell you how you live your life.
ReplyDeleteBeing part of a group introduces more than just your free will. Being part of a group compromises your ideals and opinions because you are not the only person with an ideal or an opinion. When you are in a group your ideas become part of a compromise or disregarded due to being outnumbered. When groups act on consensus you have no choice but to comply, the key phrase here is "no choice". This is why i don't associate myself or associate myself to a great degree with group because if I did my opinions would have to change as the group's opinion changes and this I am not okay with.
The title "The Bear that Wasn't" refers to how the others who surrounded the bear saw him for something he wasn't, a man. In the story, the bear encounters a group of officials of a factory who refuse to acknowledge him for his true identity, a bear, because he did not fit their definition of one. The bear was not in a zoo or working in a circus, so to them, he had to be just a silly man in a fur coat and nothing else. The bear at first was very persistent in trying to convince the men he was not in fact a man, but a bear. However as he went through the bureaucracy of the Factory, he was told over and over he was not a bear and it got harder and harder for him to deny what they told him. Tashlin is suggesting that society affects how an individual sees his or herself. The bear always knew he was a bear, but as time went on, he began to think he was a man because he was constantly being told he was. The Factory official were more powerful than the Bear and were able to reshape the way he saw himself. Those with power have the ability to shape identities of those weaker then them by creating their own definitions for less powerful individuals.
ReplyDeleteOur need to part of a group sometimes keeps us from doing what we want and sets limitations on our actions. No one wants to be left out. No one wants to be an outcast. This why it is hard for us to go against the group, because that would risk the chance of being kicked out. I, myself, have not been in a similar situation like the Bear's, where others try to tell my I'm something I'm not because I don't tend to surround myself with such people. If somehow I were to be in such situation, I'd like to think that I would have enough courage to tell them otherwise. Standing up to people who are "cooler" and more powerful than me will obviously be quite difficult, even hypothetically, but staying true to myself and having independence in the end would be worth it!
Raymond Chen
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
9/29/11
The title of the story, “The Bear That Wasn’t”, refers to the fact in the story that the bear was told that he wasn’t a bear. The factory officials refused to accept that Bear was a bear because he didn’t fit the descriptions of a bear; he didn’t live in the circus or zoo, and he was in a factory. The bear had trouble with maintaining his belief that he was a bear as he moved up the hierarchy of the factory because all the officials were informing him of the same fact: that he wasn’t a bear. He was being told over and over again that he wasn’t a bear, and that was starting to affect his chain of thought. Tashlin is suggesting that society has a great influence on what individuals think of themselves. Society defines people based on majority of opinion. Individuals follow the thought process of society because it is considered normal to do so; individuals lose their individuality in society, and adhere to common thought. The author further suggests that certain powerful individuals in society can shape the way the lower class think of themselves, as shown by the factory officials convincing the bear of his identity as a man. The powerful can influence the weak through their authority and power as leaders.
Our need to be a part of a group is an important feature of human nature. People feel more secure when they are in groups, and this fact leads many people to want to be a part of groups. This desire for a group causes people to act how they are expected to act instead of how they truly feel. They may not want to be different from the general opinions of a group, so they conform and try to be as similar to a group as possible, in order to keep together with the group and so that they don’t stick out as unusual. It is difficult for a person to go against the group because the group has more influence than an individual; the person doesn’t want to be left out and feel alone in their opinion. I have experienced a problem similar to the bear. I can’t recall a specific case, but I have definitely met with many opinions of the majority that conflict with mine. I was stubborn at first, refusing to accept that what I strongly believed in was false, but I eventually gave in due to the amount of opposition I faced. However, this admitting of defeat was only verbally; I only acknowledged that I was wrong in order to fit in with the majority. Inside, I still kept to my opinion, and that fact bothered me because I couldn’t truly believe that my thoughts were not accepted.
The title "The Bear that Wasn't" means that the bear was mistaken for something else, even though he was really a bear. The factory officials did not recognize him for what he was, because they had destructed most of his living environment and turned it into a large factory - in which workers are expected to be, therefore, identifying the bear as "a silly man who needs to shave and wears a fur coat." It was more difficult for the bear to keep his identity, because the officials continuously denied the fact that the bear was a bear, eventually making him give in and believe that he really wasn't a bear. Tashlin suggests that the society makes an individual who he/she is. A person is not defined by how one is, but how the society perceives the person.
ReplyDeleteOur need to be a part of a group affects us, because people change to please others or we are gradually influenced by the group to do things that we would not normally do. It is difficult to go against a group, because it is only one person going against a bunch of others. Their opinions overpower us, and we do not have any support if there is only one person. I have experienced a similar problem with my mom and dad's side of the family. They do not accept who I am, and constantly attempt to belittle and exclude my family (mom, dad, three sisters) and me from any family activities. Whatever the matter is, I know who I am and I will do whatever I want to do without judgement and harsh criticism. It was really difficult to cope with this situation, but I still remain independent from them.
The title "The Bear That Wasn’t" represents a bear that is looked at as something other than what he really is because of the way society treats individuals. In this story, all of the factory workers see him as just a lazy man in a fur coat because he is a bear in a factory. They think that a bear can’t possibly be in factory, so he can’t be a bear. Throughout the story, the bear tries to convince the foreman and others at the factory that he is in fact a bear but their impressions of him weaken his own self-awareness. At the end of the story, the bear no longer sees himself as a bear but a silly man in a fur coat. The author of the story Tashlin is suggesting that society can really change how one sees them self. Society has the ability to shape individuals and really define them. People in a society can convince you that you are something that you are not, that you have a different identity than what you percieve. Society will look down at people below them and try to make them into whatever they want them to be. Finally, the bear realizes that he is a bear despite what others try to make him think. In the end, you have to be who you know you are and not let others change you.
ReplyDeleteOur need to be a part of a group definitely affects our actions. Everybody wants to fit in with a group and you feel that you can’t fit in if you’re noticeably different. People can go to drastic measures to change themselves to be in a certain group of people. Many people don’t have the willpower to stand alone and to not change themselves for others. In a way I have been in the same position as the bear. Just because I have blonde hair, people look at me and assume I’m dumb. I know that I am not dumb and society is trying to make me think that I am. No matter what people say to me or think about me, that will never change my outlook on myself. I will never give in to society’s perceptions of me and be dumb just because they think I am. I stay independent because I could never be something that I am not. It wouldn’t be right to change myself for others. Everybody is made in a certain way and nobody should alter that because of what other people think. The Bear That Wasn’t is a short story detailing how society can affect how you see yourself.
The title The Bear That Wasn't means that it's a story where there is a situation when a bear is called or said to be not one. The factory officials were very stereotypical, so they assumed that all bears belonged in the circus or in a zoo. Just because this bear wasn't in eaither, they had concluded that he wasn't a bear at all and in fact a silly man that needs to shave and wears a fur coat. As the bear moved through the bureaucracy of the factory the constant denial that he had received caused the bear to begin to have a mindset where he isn't a bear. In the reading, Tashlin suggests that a society can impact how an individual behaves and their traits. The want of fitting in highly influences and shapes an individual and eventually determine who the individual becomes. Higher people within a society usually begin to assign roles to people without even consenting them. They just assume roles for lower individuals on the social ladder.
ReplyDeleteOur need to be part of a group almost always sways us to make decisions in favor of staying in a group. It's very difficult for one person to go against a group because of the pressure and lack of strength in numbers. A similar problem that I've been in has always been wanting to fit in with the other Asian/Americans that also go to the school. I hang out with many other people, but the need of fitting in with that group always irks me to try to follow along with whatever they're doing. Over the years I've learned that I shouldn't worry so much about fitting in with that group and that doing whatever makes me happy is perfectly fine.
-Phillip Mei
Society holds people back from being individuals. Other people are always stereotyping and telling others who they're supposed to be. Many people with less power than others are easily convinced and are always picked on so when they hear things over and over again, they start to believe it, like bear. Individuals are often worrying that they will be judged/not well liked if they show who they truly are. Nobody likes being judged and an example would be peer pressure. Say your friend starts drinking and smoking and tries to persuade you to start too. If you say no you might be afraid that they and a lot of other people will think you're lame/uncool and a goodie two shoes. Society is always trying to bring people down.
ReplyDeleteWhenever people find out that I'm half Asian, they always say "you eat dogs and cats, don't you?" and "have you ever tried those weird things other Asians eat like cats, dogs, sheep privates, etc.?" It really annoys me and I always say "no, I do not and will not ever eat those things but that doesn't mean I'm gonna judge others who do.But I do have a cat and think it's wrong to eat house pets." Then when they find out I have a cat they ask if me or my dad has ever tried to cook and eat it. Also, they always think that I'm good at math and that I'm "half smart" because I'm half Asian. I hate stereotypes and I always refuse to accept things that people say about who I am because I don't like believing things that aren't true. Nobody can tell me who I am since nobody knows me better than me. I have a strong hate for society and people who try to tell others who they are, unless they are positively telling someone who they are (ex. you're really smart, pretty, nice, talented, etc.)
-Jennifer Tran
What were the consequences for the Bear of the way others defined his identity?
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