Nightmare Before Christmas, published by Disney, is a fun, musical film about “being yourself”. The story revolves around Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, who leads his town to hold Halloween festivities. In the year that the movie takes place, Jack becomes tired of Halloween and in his musings accidentally discovers Christmas Town. Frustrated with his inability to introduce the idea of Christmas to the residents of Halloween town, be creates a plan to take over Christmas from Santa Claus and the residents of Christmas Town. This goes badly with the humans being terrified and Jack’s sled being shot from the sky by the military. Jack basically realizes it is best to be himself and frees Santa (who was captured as a result of Jack’s own plot gone wrong) so he can save Christmas. Jack resolutely decides to go back to making the best Halloween rather than trying to play someone else’s part.

This film upholds the idea that “being yourself,” more specifically “playing your part in society” is the best thing you can do. In the context to of the film, that is a great idea. However, what if you don’t know who you are or what your “part in society” is supposed to be? In recent years, the idea of “identity” has gained the societal spotlight. People define their identities with different things, including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. In an effort to promote diversity, universities frequently have orientation activities that encourage you to share who you are to others in a non-confrontational manner. While the idea that you “don’t really know who you are” is probably acceptable, it feels the trend is to have a defined identity. I almost feel pressured to define my own identity. I’ve always felt that I’m different when people who were supposed to be of my own ethnicity (whatever that is now). This is only one issue, but what am I supposed to do after my plan to steal Christmas ends in flames?