Amy Schumer killed it again in episode two of Inside Amy Schumer’s third season, with the satirical music video and social media movement “Girl, You Don’t Need Makeup.”
The song opens with adoring lines reminiscent of boy-band pop sensations like One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” insisting that the Schumer doesn’t “need” makeup. But when Schumer washes her face clean, the boy-band’s shock at the result transforms their compliments to harsh criticism, and they quickly start encouraging her to put it all back on: “Wipe it off” becomes “girl I can’t be seen with the ghost from The Ring.” It’s brutal, and it’s hilarious.
As usual, Schumer’s face through the video says it all. Flattered then perplexed, and finally totally fed up with the clown face she’s donning by the end, Schumer perfectly captures the confusion women feel as they’re bombarded with conflicting expectations about the way they should look. Like every other girl, Schumer can’t figure out what she’s supposed to do. Makeup or no makeup? All natural or just natural makeup? WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY MEAN, WORLD?! And why does it even matter?
The video highlights what’s wrong with the abundance of pop songs telling young girls that they don’t know how beautiful they are. One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” begins with the lyrics “You’re insecure / Don’t know what for.” Well, first of all, let’s not assume that wearing makeup means we’re insecure. And second of all, if we are insecure, it’s because we’re living in a culture obsessed with narrow, unattainable standards of beauty. It’s no wonder that in a society plastered with photoshopped images pushing products, makeup is the norm.
But Schumer’s video does what every great satire should: critiques culture in the hope of transformation. Maybe if we acknowledge how ridiculous the expectations for women are, we can all begin to take them a little less seriously. And the good news is, the overwhelming amount of make-up free selfies posted on Twitter and Instagram in support of the video indicates we’re on track.
And as huge Schumer fans, here’s one of our own, straight from the BUST headquarters. Upload one of your own, because #girlyoudontneedmakeup!
Image via BuzzFeed
