What Is It With The “I Feel Pretty” Controversy?
Amy Schumer is a talented comedian, writer, and actor who has released a new movie, “I Feel Pretty.” As an entertainer, she is undoubtedly used to feedback, whether good or bad. But, no one could have predicted the criticism which has come her way since the release of the film. Schumer herself told has commented on the backlash in multiple publications. So, what is it, why is it happening, and is it a big waste of time?
The Controversy: In short, people on social media were unhappy with the film since the release of the initial trailer. People found that the premise – an average-sized woman hitting her head and loving her body – was a bad message for society. Also, the fact that she is a white, blonde-haired woman seems to make it harder to stomach for some.
Why It’s Happening: There’s no doubt that the women and men who are against the film feel aggrieved. In their opinion, it’s not right for Schumer to send out this message given her status in Hollywood. It’s not as if she is morbidly obese and shouldn’t love her body. Or, at least that is what the consensus seems to be.
Is It A Waste Of Time?: It’s hard to call it a waste of time considering people are opening up about their feelings and trying to protect others. However, it does raise issues that need answering. Quite simply, this is something which only seems to happen to women. Here are a few reasons why the controversy doesn’t sit well and shouldn’t with ladies around the world:
- It’s Her Body: The idea that people have the right to tell Amy Schumer how she should feel about her body is laughable. Yes, she is a woman who enjoys privileges as she is rich, famous and successful. But, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is that she worked hard and therefore deserves her status. The second is women, no matter who, have insecurities and should be able to work through them. Although it’s not the usual platform, the movie screen is Schumer’s therapist of sorts.
- The Film Has A Positive Message: Topics such as these are difficult to debate because of things such as offense versus artistic freedom. However, one thing that reviewers note about “I Feel Pretty” is the benign nature of the content. It’s not against feminism or overweight people or anything in general. Anyone with IT support and an internet connection can find examples of movies that have missed the tone. Does anyone remember “Shallow Hal”? Schumer is pro-women and her film does nothing to dispel this fact.
- Projection Gets In The Way: These are Amy’s quotes to Bustle.com: “People just projected hard, and I understand why — it’s hard to be a chick.” But, we have to be careful to over sensationalize things which aren’t controversial. For one thing, it adds to the already difficult line which women have to tow. And, it gets in the way of the aim of a movie – sitting in a theater and having fun.
Do you have any opinions regarding “I Feel Pretty”? Be sure to get in touch and leave a comment.