With Halloween just around the corner, everyone’s talking about one thing: what to wear. Whether it’s going to be ghosts or goblins, one thing’s for sure, we’ll all be seeing The Lorax costumes this year. According to Live Now news by FOX, among the top ten most popular Halloween costumes this year, The Lorax takes the place of number ten. In recent months it’s become a trend to don the orange jumpsuit and furry yellow mustache. While it does have its charms, it has been labeled by the internet as “pretty girl humor”. Pretty girl humor is defined as exaggerating quirks and making an effort to have your instincts be niche. Other Halloween costumes such as Hamilton or Spongebob fall into this category as well. The whole basis of these costumes are to make people laugh at how over the top they are.
While many will defend this type of humor despite the label, others poke fun. The supporters say that this trend challenges the old stereotype that people who are conventionally attractive can’t have a personality. The other side finds that to be just the opposite as they say this type of humor isn’t even funny. People find this trend frustrating but it’s not because of The Lorax character, it’s the repitivness. After scrolling for hours or hearing this term for so long, what was funny can appear repetitive. The label “pretty girl humor” has caused a debate in itself. It can be perceived as a harmless label but it can also be seen as something unfair. Its name implies that humor is defined by appearance and not creativity. Pretty girl humor reduces originality to a stereotype when costumes are meant to be fun and creative. Even if someone just wants to dress up in a funny Halloween costume, they now run the risk of being labeled online. At the end of the day it’s just people looking to be creative and remembering that self expression comes in different forms is crucial.
The Lorax trend has shaped how social media perceives what’s funny and what is “trying too hard.” Trends come and go but Halloween will continue to be a place of self expression, even if you’re The Lorax.
