By Natasha Ramaswamy |Co-editor in Chief'The Greatest Showman' is a musical biography centered on the early career of P.T. Barnum, the creator of the Barnum & Bailey circus, a man who is often hailed as the father of modern show business. The movie directed by Michael Gracey and star-studded with actors like Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya, earned widespread attention due to its success at the Golden Globes and its Academy Award nomination for its original anthem, “This is Me.”As a character, Barnum is originally presented as a young man who has ambition for one reason alone: he wants to provide a good life for his family. He has little luck until one of his daughters indirectly gives him the idea to create a live show of sorts. Thus, to save his family from financial ruin, Barnum seeks out people who are considered to be freaks of nature and brings them to his show to perform, promising them a chance to show the world that they are more than everyone claims them to be. Given the times, Barnum’s “freak show” is met with vastly polarized reactions. The lower class finds the show to be spectacular, a chance to experience something altogether revolutionary, but the upper class scorns Barnum, claiming that he is morally corrupt.Eventually, an angry reporter, dubbing the show a circus of all things abominable, prompts Barnum to rename his show “Barnum’s Circus” out of spite, and the term is born. In a few months, with the help of his performers and new business partner Phillip Carlyle, Barnum earns something of a small fortune, but though he is suddenly able to provide his family with the life he always wanted for them, Barnum grows increasingly frustrated with the lack of respect he finds from the upper class. Thus, Barnum decides to chase after his reputation, and the movie turns to focus on the price of ambition in an unforgiving world.Throughout the movie, it is made clear that 'The Greatest Showman' focuses on music that is an intricate blend of classic and contemporary, a theme that heavily mirrors the central conflict of the story where Barnum struggles to overcome societal tradition to present the art of the circus to the public. Though the story in itself is nothing new, what sets 'The Greatest Showman' apart is this music, melodies that almost transport you out of your seat and into the colorful world of the circus. Thus, comes as no surprise that one of its songs, “This is Me”, performed by Keala Settle, who plays the bearded woman, is in the running for an Oscar.All in all, 'The Greatest Showman' is a film for anyone who wants to trade in their taxi for an elephant or embrace whatever it is that makes them different. For a couple hours, I would definitely recommend letting yourself slide into a world of magic and seeing for yourself if P.T. Barnum is in fact, the greatest showman.