New Books Network Daniel Horowitz, "Bear With Me: A Cultural History of Famous Bears in America" (Duke UP, 2025)
Sep 5, 2025
Daniel Horowitz, a historian and author, dives into the vibrant history of bears in American culture. He explores how figures like teddy bears and Yogi Bear evoke both comfort and fear, highlighting their roles in media and childhood. Conversations touch on the portrayal of bears in captivity and the unique emergence of gay bear culture post-World War II. Horowitz reflects on the lasting impact of bears in storytelling and public perception, illustrating the complex relationships humans have with these iconic creatures.
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Bears' Emotional Ambiguity Explains Their Popularity
- Daniel Horowitz argues bears appear everywhere because they can embody extreme emotions, from terror to comfort.
- Their emotional range makes them versatile cultural symbols across media and time.
Lockdown Pillow-Talk Sparked The Book
- Horowitz recounts inventing a fictional bear, Polar, during COVID lockdown as a whimsical way into the topic.
- He used nightly Pillow Talk imaginings to kickstart the book project.
Fear Outsizes Actual Bear Risk
- Violent bear stories like Hugh Glass or Timothy Treadwell dominate imagination despite low statistical danger.
- Dramatic bear encounters persist because they provoke intense fear and fascination.
