The most shameful misinterpretation I have ever seen

The irony of this article is it actually DOES appropriate something and turns it into something it’s not and does not represent and that seems to be what the author is ironically trying to preach against.

The simple fact is Tim Burton does not feel any shame about mixing and matching aspects of different cultures and that was never the intentional interpretation of this movie. Look at Corpse Bride, for example. He fully admits Corpse Bride is a mixture of Mexican Day of the Dead, Victorian England, and a Russian / Jewish folktale. If Tim Burton was anti-Cultural appropriation (as many social justice Warriors call it) than much of his work would not exist. Cultural appreciation (not appropriation) is a major theme of Nightmare before Christmas as both cultures give and borrow from each other and love each other at the end of the story. The direct opposite of the interpretation in this article, which would serve no purpose but to depress a true Nightmare before Christmas fan.

There are good intentions behind being anti-Cultural appropriation. I acknowledge this but many have untentionally condoned and promoted a “separate but equal” mindset which is a thinly veiled self-justified form of cultural segregation.

I couldn't stand reading it. It's boring as Hell.

Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw

"And why should they have all the fun?
It should be long to anyone"

Just those lyrics cited in the article, of course before Jack sings of improving upon Christmas (innocently...mischievously...he is the Pumpkin King, after all. He has his stroke of deviance about him but he also yearns to spread the wonder that Christmas Town gave him to his neighbors. He seems to want to alter it more to help the other Halloween Town residents better accept it.), didn't really seem to click with the author.

What I always took from TNBC is that these holidays should belong to everyone. Whether in their original form or not, all people can appreciate and share in a celebration of something. And when we change these meanings of celebrations due to our own beliefs, preferences, interpretations...yes, there can be repercussions. Jack pays for his mistakes. But we can't necessarily fault him for his curiosity and love of this holiday so different from his own. I think the article is really straining to find ways to critique this film through the lens of this trend in modern day bashing of anything that isn't "PC" enough. So I agree with you. :)

I've seen how unpleasant discussions about this sort of thing can get (I should know since I use tumblr :P), so before I respond to the OP, I'll let readers know that I'm not trying to state my opinions as facts and I hope to keep things as civil as possible.)

I've read a few other commentaries about how TNBC can serve as a representation of cultural appropriation, so I doubt the article in question will show me anything new. I can see both sides of the issue regarding cultural appropriation. But I don't think your arguments in particular are very strong.

1. I won't say that the audience is always right and I do believe that it's possible to watch a movie wrong. With that said, good stories—in my opinion—can be interpreted in many ways.
2. That's true, but I don't really understand how this works against the concept of cultural appropriation as the movie's theme. It's notable that things only backfire when Jack takes over a holiday that doesn't belong to him. (And things are only resolved when he realizes his mistake.) The ending exemplifies how things can be enjoyed without being taken.
3. Once more, I don't know how this point supports your argument.
4. In my opinion, there is a big difference between inspiration and appropriation. True, the Land of the Dead from Corpse Bride does have the image of lively death things like the Day of the Dead, but in very different ways. I don't believe I've seen any real aspects of Mexican culture in the movie. (Plus, I doubt incorporating upbeat elements with the macabre was ever exclusively a Mexican thing.) You don't have to be culturally segregated to avoid exploiting another culture with a disregard for its meaning and people. (Which is what I believe cultural appropriation is.)
5. I don't know what Tim Burton's ideals are, but once more, it IS possible to enjoy different cultures without exploiting them and without twisting them into something they aren't (the latter of which is not unlike what Jack did with Christmas). So I disagree that speaking against cultural appropriation is speaking for conformity.

I won't say I agree that cultural appropriation is the movie's central theme, but I do think it's an interesting interpretation and I wouldn't dismiss it right off the bat.

All in all, what I get from the movie's moral is this (as I mentioned in another post on IMDB): broaden your horizons, explore new things and appreciate them, but don't take what isn't yours.

Good grief!! It's a brilliant, fun masterpiece! End of story.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!