Post-Schna-ulations

Crazy Bear

Strait-Jacketed Teddy Bear Brings Protests

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. is featuring a 15-inch bear in a straitjacket. The $69.95 stuffed animal is called the "Crazy for You Bear" and comes with its own commitment papers.

Picture of Bear

While I understand why people in the mental health community are upset by this bear, it still baffles me that THIS is what would raise their ire, and yet they leave untouched all of the HORRIBLE movies that come out every year which, I think, are far more damaging to the view of people with mental illnesses (for example (and this is only to name a small few): "Me, Myself, and Irene", "A Beautiful Mind" (I know MANY people who would disagree with me on this one, but I stand by it), "Don't Say a Word" (mostly, this was just a shitty movie), "Crazy Love", and any movie that seems to have no understanding of the difference between Schizophrenia and MPD). Okay, I had a whole slew more and they have left me...
Let me clarify that I don't have a problem with laughing about serious subjects, such as mental illness, if the humor is done in a way that is not mocking or totally misinformed. The problem with many of the movies to which I refer is that they try to be serious, and totally miss the mark, OR they just make fun of something, which isn't the same as making something funny. Let me throw out a couple of movies that I think succeed in dealing with mental illness successfully (either in a serious or comical way): any movie by Wes Anderson, "Igby Goes Down", "As Good As It Gets", and "Shine". I could go on, however, I'm more interested in other people's opinions. SO...

The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to come up with a movie (or movies) or any other marketable good (such as the stupid expensive bear mentioned above) that YOU feel ONLY encourages the stereotypes of those with mental illness OR that handles the subject with finesse.

posted by Schna @ 8:49 AM