Tuesday, April 7, 2009
GRIZZLY MAN!! Good, Bad, or Benign?
Grizzly Man, the movie we watched today in class, was quite thought provoking. At first I just thought he was some die-hard environmentalist who was fascinated by bears. Then throughout the movie I was alarmed at just how mentally unsound the gentlemen seemed to be. I do greatly respect the man for what he aspired to do. I think he did a good thing by trying to raise the awareness of the need for wildlife protection in the eyes of young children. I do, however, think that his methods for doing so were not so helpful. There was one man in the video that said that he was actually hurting the bears by desensitizing them to humans. I tend to agree with this opinion, because the dire effects were portrayed later in the video. When the hunters or tourists, I’m not sure what they were doing there, were filming the bear and throwing rocks at her. That right there is what the native was talking about. By being around the bears so much, he caused the bears to think that all humans were peaceful, that they all meant no harm. Now don’t get me wrong, I do admire his transcendentalism and dedication, and it’s amazing how he was able to survive in the wild like that, but the fact of the matter is what he did was dangerous to himself, obviously, and to the bears. Then again I suppose he’s not much different than the Crocodile Hunter and Steve Corwin. They also venture into the wild, often touching the animals in order to educate the public. I’m interested to know what you guys think? Do you think his actions beneficial or harmful to the bears?
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I believe he was nuts! Yes, what he did was courageous and he loved his work. He educated children and the public about these creatures and the relatively uncharted land of the "Grizzly Maze" etc. That is all well and good but throughout the movie I kept feeling as though he was no longer out there for the study of the bears or for the protection of them but rather the enjoyment for himself. It was mentioned a few times throughout the film that he was "rescued" by the bears and he found himself and reconnected with himself by observing the lifestyle of these isolated bears. They lived simply. People tend not to. Unfortunately I agree with the criticism of the native in that he was harming the bears by making them believe all humans were friendly. As I stated in my own post, I also believe that he harmed himself by believing all bears could be friendly. No matter how much he claimed to have 'loved' a bear, they at any point could have killed him. These were unpredictable, wild animals he roamed with and to add to the story, he seemed unpredictable and unstable as well. I truly feel as though he meant well. I also feel he did not protect the bears, rather harmed them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that what the grizzly man did was very dangerous and unsafe to him and the animals he came in contact with. Not only did he put his life in jeopardy by living amongst the bears, but he also put them at risk for potential death by socializing them to human contact. As I'm sure he knew, not everyone is eager to become acquainted with a bear. Regardless of how calm and harmless they may appear, they are still fearless, powerful, and dangerous animals, who could easily tear a human apart in a matter of seconds. This is why wildlife researchers should always be very careful with the techniques they employ to study their specimens. I'm sure the grizzyman had no intention of introducing those animals to these potential risks, but this is what happens when one gets swept away by the moment - you become oblivious to the consequences of your actions. Overall, I truly do commend the grizzly man for the work he has done. Even though his tragic fate prevented him from pressing this issue further, people everywhere have a better understanding of bears and their place in nature thanks to him.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Tred well meant well, I definately think his actions didn't help the bears at all, and probably hurt them. Throughout the movie he insisted that he was protecting the bears, but there wasnt anything to really protect them from. The bears harmed and killed each other way more than the humans did. As far as his overall mission, trying to prove that bears are mis understood and not really dangerous, he completely undermined that by getting far to close to them and essentially almost provoking an attack. I think that treadwell crossed that line that the native inuit who ran the museum was talking about, with devastating consequences.
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