100th Anniversary of the Teddy Bear

Cultural Analysis, Volume 8, 2009
Gifting the Bear and a Nostalgic Desire for Childhood Innocence

Donna Varga
Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada


Abstract: This article examines twentieth and twenty-first century adult relational interactions with the teddy bear toy. It describes the association between the teddy's mythological origins and its infusion with a commoditized sentimentality that provides adults with a nostalgic return to an imagined personal and social time of childhood innocence. This analysis further details how the 'gifting' of teddy bears to adults and children in response to social or personal crises denies possibilities for meaningful human interactions and social change. Go to this link for more of the story: https://socrates.berkeley.edu/~caforum/volume8/vol8_article4.html

I like it!teddy bear

I think teddy bears are one of those toys that will never go out of fashion, no matter how many battery operated electronic things we have. That and dolls anyway.

You can't really cuddle a toy robot when you're sad. Well, I suppose you could but it wouldn't be very comfortable.

ive still got my teddy bear he was handed down from my sister to my brother then me. He use to be blue but his sort of a grey color now. This year he turned 55yr. Hes name is blue ted

I have not been to this thread for about 9 months. I was pleased to see that my post evoked some interest among teddy bear lovers.-Ron