LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in It’s Kind of a Funny Story, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mental Health
Art and Self-Discovery
Peer Pressure vs. Self-Empowerment
Friendship and Romance
Summary
Analysis
A couple days later, a guy called Neil comes to lead “musical exploration.” He has a guitar with him, and he leads Craig and the others through playing “I Shot The Sheriff.” Then they play some songs by the Beatles. Becca and Bobby start to dance, while Johnny refuses. Craig is nervous about having to dance when it’s his turn, but he sees Noelle and invites her to dance with him.
Similar to drawing, music helps Craig learn how art can be a way to learn more both about himself and about others. The communal nature of music in this scene reinforces how the hospital brings together people from very different life situations.