Essay On Halloween Costumes

Halloween: the holiday where as kids we couldn’t wait to go door to door to achieve the golden goal of a full bag of candy. Halloween soon turns into a question mark for teens; in an instant, there is a change of when it is ‘appropriate’ to go trick-or-treating and when you should just move on. Are you the one who thinks Trick-or-treating is lame or the one who still walks around your neighborhood every year -- no matter how many dirty looks you may get. What teenagers decide to do on Halloween varies: going to a party, passing out candy, staying home are a few popular options. Throughout my highschool experience I have been able to witness and experience all different types of halloteens, each with their own traits.

Clothing is one of many ways people express themselves to the world in which they live. One important piece of clothing is headgear. For example, a hat can be used to show someone’s favorite sports team, favorite band, favorite color, or maybe it just signifies your culture and/or faith. Headgear can tell a lot about someone and it can also hide what people do not want others to see. However, schools around the country continue to put strict rules in place which stop students from expressing themselves through the use of headgear. Headgears should be allowed for all students to wear as it symbolizes not only their beliefs and culture, but their individuality as a person.

Thesis Statement: How Halloween has evolved from what it once was to what is now.

In recent years, Halloween costumes have created controversy because they touch on the issue of cultural appropriation. Children are simply not aware of how their costumes can unwittingly offend certain cultures or ethnic groups, and parents are also often unsure as to which costume ideas qualify as “culturally respectful”. In the LA Times opinion editorial, “On Halloween, parents have no choice but to wade into fraught cultural politics,” Oppenheimer argues that picking a Halloween costume is a challenging task with many grey areas as to what is considered offensive to various religious or ethnic groups who are often the inspiration behind Halloween costumes. He asserts that all individuals should take care to avoid culturally appropriating, but that there are also grey areas in costume choice where appropriation isn’t as clearly defined. In order to illustrate the nuanced challenge of picking costumes, Oppenheimer utilizes an anecdote to show how societal values have changed within his lifetime. He shares, “When I was 10, I was in love with a musical theater; if you’d forced me to dress up for Halloween, I might have been chosen a character from ‘Dreamgirls,’ a play about African Americans” (Oppenheimer 3). It is evident that he was not aware of what was socially acceptable in society being that he was merely 10 years old. Considering that much time has passed, by reflecting back to his past self, he is able to realize that dressing this way could have touched many sensitive areas of cultural appropriating a race. As there are no specific set of standards established in society, individuals follow and adhere to what is presented in front of them. It is utterly challenging for all individuals to identify what is permitted in society despite the diversity in ethnic groups and age. While the youths are struggling to find the perfect balance to avoid cultural appropriating a group, it is also difficult for adults to distinguish the difference. To advise the individuals in recognizing the difference in regards to the significance of certain Halloween costumes, Oppenheimer utilizes an appeal to authority with an Yale scholar and former preschool teacher, Erika Christakis. It is ideal that, “...when it comes to the

“Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” This quote comes to us from one of the main characters in the hit movie Mean Girls (2004). Even though this line is in fact quite satirical, unfortunately in our society today it also could not be more accurate. We are long past the days of Halloween being scary and we are certainly past the days when Halloween was a remembrance for loved ones who have been lost. Looking sexy and feeling sexy is now the common goal for many. By examining Halloween throughout the past decades we can see how this holiday, and the costumes that now accompany it have been morphed into the money making, sexualized and sexist holiday that we know

C. Thesis Statement: Going from what the meaning of Halloween is in America today and looking back at it’s roots, it has evolved dramatically. And just recently we have been seeing a comeback from one of those roots, but do we know it’s real cultural significance?

In the article, “I was That Girl On Halloween –Here’s How I Learned My Lesson” by Alden Wicker, discusses how she was influenced to change her perspective when buying or creating a Halloween costume and how it has a hostile response in peoples cultures. Wicker

Every fall, Americans are excited by the return of cooler weather, changing leaves, seasonal lattes, and the endless possibilities for Halloween costume choices. Whether it be for attending a party, going trick or treating, or just handing out candy, a majority of Americans choose to dress up and celebrate the holiday. Choosing a Halloween costume used to be an untroubled task, yet it has become an increasingly difficult decision in recent years. In times of an “easily offended society,” choosing an appropriate and non-upsetting costume has now become tedious and wearisome. Much of this is because Halloween costumes contribute to and promote cultural appropriation in our society. The Cambridge English dictionary defines cultural

Halloween, a holiday many of us know and love. A day when we celebrate together with our friends, family, neighbors and community. We go from door to door collecting candy, sweets and much more, racing on who can approach the most houses or who can collect the most candy in the group. It is all fun and games when trick or treating, and it has evolved into so much more than from the past. As years pass by, we celebrate this holiday annually, but of everything we’ve taken in from being children through our teen and adult years, do we truly know the background of Halloween Day?

From time immemorial, hell was an inspiration for the costumes used during Halloween. In the contemporary society, turning up for Halloween dressed up as a goblin, zombie or ghost is less likely to make a staunch follower of the event to receive sufficient appreciation. Popular culture has succeeded in replacing the underworld in terms of providing influential costumes for the event. The aspect of individuals from different races increasingly dominating pop culture is causing costume lovers to face a number of issues. The most dominant question has always been whether it is ethical to dress or appear dressed up like someone from a different race during Halloween. This factor largely bases

At Leaguetown Middle School, the fate of a beloved tradition is in the Student Council’s hands. Principal Hertz is banning the annual Halloween costume contest fundraiser. In support of the fundraiser, administrators had decided to let students wear their costumes to school. Although this contest is made for the cause of supporting the school, some students have seen this as an opportunity to dress inappropriately, from violent and gruesome to mature and revealing. Although the fundraiser has both pros and cons, it is indisputable that keeping this fundraiser alive will support the education of many students and will create a memorable tradition to look forward to.

Society view is Halloween is not a little too correct because it involves people perception on things and their feelings. A lot of people’s feeling could be hurt just be insensitivity or lack of self-awareness to them. Therefore, everyone is encouraged to know the society’s view on Halloween costumes with regards to the gender, culture and race. The societal view tries to make Halloween not offensive to anyone.

Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money. Over time this tradition turned in to today modern “trick or treating”. In the late 1800s, America turned Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, and witchcraft. As the centuries changed Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century (Kammen).

As I was walking back from school with my friends, Will and Alex, we were talking about what we were going to do tonight for Halloween. The teachers seem to be really concerned about us, telling us not to go by ourselves but rather go in big groups or with our parents for trick or treating, like were 13, we can handle ourselves. Mr. Robert our history teacher was telling all the kids that he hates Halloween because it symbolizes the devil and demons. He was yelling at another student, I forgot her name but she was saying that she was going to dress up as the devil and try to summon other demons he was not having it, he kicked her out immediately. As she was leaving she said something weird speaking gibberish something like “Ligandum eos

It was a foggy night on Halloween Many think that the barrier between our world and the underworld are at the weakest point well let's find out Me and my friends love Halloween we can be anyone or anything for only one day out of the year.Every year me and my friends lucy,who is a more scientific person believes every thing should be proven she has black hair blue eyes Parker,wants some money he has blond hair and green eyes and Eleanor is a scaredy cat she has white hair and brown eyes.we take a trip to my parents cabin in the louisiana swamp It is great this time of year because we always go looking for unusual things out of this world things paranormal things. We always see something but you never let them see you!