Psychoanalysis Of Grizzly Man

Grizzly Man is a Documentary about Timothy Treadwell and his passion for bears. He was born in Long Island, New York in 1957 and had an average family life; in his formative years, he developed a kinship with his mother based on their mutual love of animals. In later life he stumbled into broken relationships and heavy drinking and cultivated an interest in grizzlies. For more than 12 years, he videotaped grizzlies and his interactions with them near Alaska’s Katmai National Park. He traveled to many elementary and high schools sharing his experiences and knowledge about grizzlies, became an advocate for grizzly conservation and started the non-profit organisation 
'Grizzly People'.

His troubled past becomes evident several times in the movie, most obviously when Treadwell is talking openly to a ‘fox friend’ about his about his battle with alcoholism. His hatred of mainstream society also becomes quite apparent, if not through his actions alone, then through his constant profession of this fact and his outright rage towards the human element of his
     

                                                           Otherwise wild and uncultivated

environment. With these conclusions, Treadwell’s reasoning for escaping to the wilderness becomes comprehendible. Society can be seen as Treadwell’s conscious or his ego, the logical, perceivable aspect of his mind. Nature then becomes his unconscious or his id, which is ruled by primitivism and repressed emotional experiences. Treadwell retreats to his unconscious and is controlled by his id when he is put into a trying situation with his ego, or in reality. The repressed pains of his past build up in his unconscious to a point where they take over and he then connects more easily with his id, which is why he drives himself into nature and away from society.

"It's time for me to go and protect them" - This is a quote from a scene in the documentary where Timothy is directly addressing the camera whilst a bear is in the background. Not only does Treadwell emphasise his love for the animals throughout the film, he believes his role is to protect them. "A passion or love for something/someone often leads to a form of obsession"; Jacques Lacan suggests that all desires are simply unrealistic fantasies which every individual strives to achieve. And when one is successful in attaining their greatest wish, they can not be satisfied for very long, for they have only ignited the fire of wanting 'bigger and better' things. I believe that this love for bears is clearly apparent to the viewer that it is something more. Furthermore I began to notice a change in Timothy as the film went on, It was as if he started to notice that despite how hard he tried he would never become part of the bear's ever day life. Scene's such as 17:30 in the film, a bear attempts to sneak up on Timothy. Timothy automatically changes his attitude to defend himself, but i believe scenes like these changed the way Timothy thought, his obsession was too strong to quit, hence he quoted "I will die for these animals". Which supports Lacan's theory of not being happy as you want something big and better, however Timothy realises he cannot get any closer to the bears than he already has, but he will continue to try, if he dies in the process, it does not mater to him.

Explain how meaning is constructed in film through analysis of visual and technical signification

I believe that the meaning within this documentary is supported by footage that was filmed by Treadwell, the narration and the interviews conducted. Techically there are not many effects placed within this documentary, the footage is mostly filmed by himself on a tripod it seems or handheld, however the argument whether Timothy helped or caused damage to the bears is debated with the use of narration and interviews.