‘Twas the week before Halloween, when all through the campus, the students planned costumes based on posts that entranced us. The outfits are hung in the closet with care, in hopes that Saturday night might soon be there.
This year’s costume lineup features classics like Frankenstein and vampires, pop-culture sensations like Christina Aguilera and Tate McRae, and characters from Scooby-Doo, The Shining, and Mean Girls.
Halloween is an opportunity for students to express themselves and transform for the night. From viral social media trends and iconic movies to childhood favorites and creative group costumes, we resonate with the media world and bring our disguises to life.
A survey was sent out to 18 Monmouth University students to explore how much of a role the media plays in determining Halloween plans. When asked about the extent to which movies, T.V. shows, and social media influence costume choices, the majority said “a lot.”
Specific to social media, 15 respondents said that they decided on a costume idea after scrolling through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Rebecca Sanford, an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, thinks that social media can both expand and constrict costume inspiration. “For example, thinking about Pinterest and being able to search limitless inspiration for costumes may generate not only ideas, but also fun DIY techniques for making a mac-and-cheese costume out of pool noodles and beyond”, Sanford explained.
12 respondents said that they prefer to wear a costume that is unique, rather than wearing one that follows trends.
Katy Potter, a junior majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing, wanted to think outside of the box this Halloween. “Expressing yourself and your creativity through a costume is so much more important and easy to do in college,” said Potter. This year, she is dressing up as Katy Perry.
While some students might use social media as a jumping-off point for out-of-the-box costumes, others find consistency in following trends. Popular costumes are reliable and often offer recognizable references that anybody would get.
Sanford further explained that the platforms students use can influence not only their inspiration, but also the variety of options they consider.
“If we’re thinking about the platforms that prioritize trending images, the costumes we consider may be more limited. If I only see a few options and I see those images, or variations of those images, repeatedly, I’d be inspired to dress accordingly. That would be more constricting for possible costume options,” said Sanford.
Whether students use algorithms to ignite ideas or follow what’s trending, the media has long played a role in shaping Halloween costumes. What students have worn in years past shows us exactly how its influence has followed us over time.
Five respondents remembered dressing up as a Disney Princess when they were younger. These recognizable characters demonstrate cultural visibility and allow for kids to identify with someone early on. Becoming Snow White, Jasmine, or Tiana, offered a chance to step into the slippers of someone they admired, in turn bringing the stories they watched on screen to life.
Lizzy Corrigan, a senior majoring in nursing, recalled the time she dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, and this year, she is channeling Karen from Mean Girls. While Dorothy is timeless, Karen reflects a pop-culture moment that Corrigan connects with at an older age.
So yes, we’ve always drawn inspiration from the media, but as we’ve gotten older and have created our own social media pages, there’s now an incentive to show off our final work. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., provide a space for students to present versions of themselves, making Halloween yet another opportunity for self-expression.
Amanda Stojanov, an Associate Professor who teaches courses in Digital Media, explained the ways that we might use these platforms. “I would argue that costume ideas are increasingly shaped by how they will look on the interfaces and within the constraints of digital environments,” said Stojanov.
“The term digital self-representation or digital identities recognizes that platforms we use influence individuals because they allow people to curate how they are perceived and encourage idealized versions of ourselves across social media,” Stojanov concluded.
Halloween costumes reflect more than simply what we want to be for the night. Whether a costume is inspired by the media we consume, a perfect photo opportunity, or a combination of both, each one tells a story about the culture we absorb and how we apply that to our own self-expression.
