Is it okay to make a pop culture reference in a college essay?

College Essays
1

<p>I have to write an essay about what makes me unique, and I want to start with the quote from Fight Club about not being a special snowflake. "You are not special. You're not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else. We're all part of the same compost heap."</p>

<p>First off, is that way too pessimistic, or could it work?
I want to build my argument around the fact that I referenced Fight Club, with my main points being my interest in film and my interest in politics agreeing with Project Mayhem's anti-capitalist beliefs but not with their anarchist ideals.</p>

<p>Is this a stupid idea? Are pop culture references okay? Sorry, I'm so bad at brain storming for creative, self reflective writings.</p>

2

<p>Well it is 10x better than making an essay about YOLO.</p>

<p>There is no way to tell it is can work until you do it. There is nothing wrong with it, I think pop culture references are okay and it is really a literary ref. But usually the personal essay is just about you and not ‘an argument’. I’m afraid all your “my this and my that” is a little off-putting and bombastic rather than revealing. But I’d still say give it a try. You have to start somewhere and develop the thought to see what pans out.</p>