Philosophy

Welcome back to The Stuffed Animal Review; a publication dedicated to providing in-depth analysis of stuffed animal design, as well exploring the larger world of stuffed creatures.

The Review is an infant blog, only two weeks old, so you have not missed crucial developments.  In fact, you are just in time to read The Review’s philosophic stance on stuffed animals, a philosophy that shapes everything to follow.

Philosophy

The Review believes in the power of stuffed animals to create a hilarious, squishable, alternate world that brings joy and mirth to one’s daily routine.  Stuffed creatures are a bridge between reality and fantasy, opening up a creative, imaginative space tethered to the everyday.

The Review believes in the power of stuffed animals to help individuals negotiate and cope with life.  Indeed, stuffed creatures are taken seriously in child psychology circles where they are credited with constructing a safe space for children to deal with very real emotions, issues, and relationships.

These “transitional objects”, however, are deemed unnecessary and even infantile with age and emotional maturity.  The Review feels that the shelving, boxing, and yard-sale selling of stuffed creatures from one’s life is a great and profound loss.  As we accumulate years we also accumulate more complicated emotions and relationships, making the ability to weave between reality and fantasy arguably more critical. 

Stuffed creatures can see you through all sorts of complex, stressful, and painful situations with a squishy soft smile.  They offer an alternative way of interacting with, and thinking about, people, events, and places. 

Most importantly: stuffed creatures allow you to be silly in a serious world, and are a reminder that the world might not be that serious after all. 

Stuffed creatures, then, have a lot of potential.  But you must start with a high-quality, well-designed creature.  Next Saturday begins The Stuffed Animal Review’s in-depth analysis of Stuffed Creature Design, where we will begin to explore the difference between stuffed creature excellence and stuffed creature mediocrity.