SC, on "A Skeleton in Christmas Town"

For my first assignment I chose to make a fan video using Disney’s movie The Nightmare before Christmas, along to the song “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel. I chose to use the movie The Nightmare before Christmas not only because it is one of my favourite Disney movies, but because it also has many parallels with the religious theme I chose to convey. The theme that is represented in my video is one from the Old Testament, one where Satan tries to take over God’s position of power, and as a result is banished to the underworld. The video demonstrates this theme through its similarities in plot most prominently when Jack tries to take over the Christmas holiday by having Santa Claus kidnapped as he impersonates him. Despite Jack’s efforts his version of Christmas goes inevitably wrong, and Santa Claus uses his magic to restore peace, but also banished Jack from Christmas land.
Some religious icons in my video include the burning of the tree that Sally had which was displayed as a vision she had about Jack’s Christmas. The fact that Santa Claus is often represented as a saint, and Jack is a skeleton from Halloween town perpetuates the idea of good and evil. The holidays themselves often have strong religious connections. When Jack is shot down he is found in the arms of an angel, and then comes to the realization that he was wrong and tears off his red suit as if he has been redeemed.
I chose the song “The Sound of Silence” because its sombre tone suits the mood that I was trying to add to my video. Its lyrics fit so well with the religious undercurrents that I was trying to emphasize. The song itself also has lyrics with religious meaning such as its reference to the church and to the god that the people had made, which in this case, would refer to Jack himself.