"Cocaine Bear" and the Problem of High-Concept Plots

"Cocaine Bear" and the Problem of High-Concept Plots

 

Introduction:

Have you heard of "Cocaine Bear"? It's a true story that has captured the imagination of Hollywood and beyond, and it's a perfect example of a high-concept plot. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at what high-concept plots are, why they're so appealing, and the potential pitfalls that come with them. Specifically, we'll examine how the "Cocaine Bear" story exemplifies these issues and what it tells us about the current state of storytelling in popular media.

What is a high-concept plot?

First, let's define what we mean by a high-concept plot. Essentially, a high-concept plot is a story idea that can be summarized in a few words or a catchy tagline. It's usually easy to pitch and that immediately grabs people's attention. Examples of high-concept plots include "Jurassic Park" (dinosaurs come back to life), "Die Hard" (a cop takes on terrorists in a high-rise building), and "The Matrix" (reality is an illusion). These stories are often built around a single, powerful idea that's easy to understand and that can be marketed effectively.

Why are high-concept plots so appealing?

There are a few reasons why high-concept plots are so appealing to storytellers and audiences alike. For one thing, they're often very memorable. If you can distill your story down to a single, compelling idea, it's much easier for people to remember and talk about. Additionally, high-concept plots often lend themselves to big, visual spectacles, which can be a huge draw for moviegoers. Finally, high-concept plots can be very marketable. If you can come up with a catchy tagline or a memorable hook, it's much easier to sell your story to producers and investors.

The "Cocaine Bear" story and its problems:

With all that in mind, let's take a closer look at the "Cocaine Bear" story. In case you're not familiar, "Cocaine Bear" is a true story about a black bear who consumed a large amount of cocaine that was dropped from an airplane by a drug smuggler. The bear subsequently died from an overdose. While this is certainly a memorable and attention-grabbing story, it's also a good example of the problems that can arise from high-concept plots.

For one thing, the story of the "Cocaine Bear" is inherently tragic. A wild animal died a horrible death because of the reckless actions of humans. Yet, because the story is so high-concept and attention-grabbing, it's easy to overlook the tragedy at its core. Additionally, the "Cocaine Bear" story has become somewhat of a joke in popular culture. It's been turned into t-shirts, memes, and even a planned movie adaptation. This sort of flippant treatment of a serious issue can be problematic, as it can desensitize us to the suffering of others.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, high-concept plots can be a powerful tool for storytellers, but they also come with their own set of problems. As the example of "Cocaine Bear" shows us, it's important to be mindful of the implications of the stories we tell and the way we tell them. When we reduce complex issues to catchy taglines or viral memes, we risk losing sight of the real human (or animal) impact of those issues. As consumers of media,

facts relating to the "Cocaine Bear" story:

• The black bear in question was found dead in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia in 1985.
• The bear had ingested roughly 70 pounds of cocaine, which had been dropped from an airplane by a drug smuggler who was being pursued by authorities.
• The bear's death led to an investigation and the eventual capture of the drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton, who had a history of involvement in illegal drug trafficking.
• The "Cocaine Bear" story has become a pop culture phenomenon in recent years, with merchandise such as t-shirts and coffee mugs featuring the bear's image and catchphrases such as "High on life, not cocaine bear."
• A film adaptation of the story is in the works, with Elizabeth Banks set to direct and star in the film.