The Daily Think

…was found the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin… – Washington Irving, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow

PUMPKINS IN MEDIA

The pumpkin or the jack-o-lantern has been around for centuries in stories and myth ever since the tale of Stingy Jack in Irish Folklore (I need to do a write up on him.) Immortalized in 1820 by Washington Irving, popularized in 1949 by Walt Disney, picked up by Stan Lee in the 1960s, and forever minted as the Pumpkin King in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the pumpkin has been used in several massive IP and does not show any signs of slowing down.

Now I could list all the different uses of a pumpkin in pop culture and modern storytelling. But this is a critical thinking news agency, and we have to understand the reason for the use of the Jack-O-Lantern. The Green Goblin used it to attack Spider-Man and explode on impact or provide a dangerous gas. In the tale of Stingy Jack, it was used to ward him off as he was a powerful trickster who conned the devil several times (I really need to do a write up on him!) And in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Pumpkin was also used similarly to attack riders who wandered through his domain. As the head of a monster or a villain like in the cartoon the Real Ghostbusters Sam Hain, or the very scary opening to the iconic Halloween movie Franchise where a

creepy Pumpkin is filmed while ominous music plays. But why were they used in the first place?

Symbolism: Pumpkins are often associated with Halloween and fall, a time when spooky and supernatural stories are popular. Using pumpkins as weapons can tie into the Halloween theme and create a festive or eerie atmosphere.

Readily Available: Pumpkins are widely available during the fall season, making them an easily accessible prop for stories set during this time. Their size and shape also make them suitable for throwing or smashing.

Unconventional and Humorous: The idea of using a pumpkin as a weapon can be unconventional and humorous, adding an element of surprise or absurdity to a story. It can create a sense of irony or playfulness in a dark or dramatic narrative.

Creative Storytelling: Authors and creators often look for unique and unexpected elements to make their stories stand out. Using a pumpkin as a weapon can be a creative twist that sets the story apart from more conventional approaches.

Cultural References: In some cultures or regions, there may be folklore or traditions that involve the use of pumpkins in rituals or ceremonies. Incorporating pumpkins as weapons in stories can reference or play with these cultural elements.

Visual Impact: The bright orange color and distinctive shape of a pumpkin can make it visually striking when used as a weapon. This visual impact can enhance the storytelling and capture the audience’s attention.

TOP 9 PUMPKINS

And since you all like Ranks and Lists here are the Top 9 uses of a Halloween Pumpkin in Storytelling traversing the media of Film and Literature:

1. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – The OG and perhaps most enduring memory of Pumpkins for many as an object to be feared.
2. Jack Skellington – Although a skeleton he was known as the Pumpkin King.
3. Halloween the movie Opening Title Credit scene – Scary as hell and when I saw this on TV as a kid, I ran back to my room to play with my GI Joes.
4. Green Goblin Pumpkin Bombs – He may be a goblin, he used Pumpkin Bombs effectively to attack the Web Crawler Spider-Man.
5. Trick R Treat the movie – The little dude running in the burlap sack who also happened to be a pumpkin underneath the mask is climbing the ranks!
6. Pumpkinhead the movie – A demon, a movie, a comic book, a video game and a beer were inspired by this one.
7. The Great Pumpkin – Charlie Browns best buddy Linus believes in the Great Pumpkin who provides us with presents.
8. Samhain – from the Real Ghostbusters Cartoon, he was Spooky and scary and showed up as the villain of Halloween episodes.
9. Pumpkin Rapper – Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers did have to deal with a pumpkin themed villain who was quite formidable.

Enjoy carving up your pumpkins, but beware of those who purchase in bulk, they may be planning a villainous turn….