Belonging is a perception shaped within personal, social, cultural and historical context. While to most the concept only includes acceptance and harmony, there can be two sides to belonging, and Donnie Darko explores this idea through its characters and their context in the film.
Donnie Darko is set against the backdrop of the 1988 Bush vs. Dukakis Presidential election; it represents 1980’s conservative America through the last 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds of Donnie Darko’s life. There is a strong theme of insecurity and isolation and many of the characters don’t belong throughout the film.
These themes are represented by Kelly using a range of film techniques. The use of iconic references, such as fashion, news and
The realisation that others feel just as lost at times keeps me from going insane, so as long as I have my friends and my family and familiar things around me I think I could feel I belong anywhere.

In conclusion, “Donnie Darko” portrays a society where, sometimes, to fit in with the mainstream is to lose your identity, but to make your own path is to have a chance at freedom and a more personal sense of belonging through your experiences and the people who share them.

Song - Where I Belong
Bryan Adams
2002

In contrast to Donnie Darko, “This Is Where I Belong” by Bryan Adams clearly illustrates the concept of belonging as a positive thing. The idea that a sense of belonging can emerge from connections to people, places, communities and the larger world is represented in the lyrics and music.
The song begins with a strong, purposeful tone and tempo, linking to the emotive and descriptive language such as “strong” and “paradise”. This creates powerful images of the singer’s “home” and his positive attitude toward it. The word “home”, although also meaning the place someone lives, has a stronger meaning, and is often interpreted as the place we have the strongest sense of belonging to rather than the physical structure itself. We can see the singer’s passion and pride in having somewhere to belong. Rhyme is included, “I hear the wind across the plain/ A sound so strong/ That calls my name”, creating a