Why Amy Schumer Is Awesome | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why Amy Schumer Is Awesome

Meet your new favorite celebrity.

28
Why Amy Schumer Is Awesome
Time Magazine

“My comedy is unapologetic and fearless,” says Amy Schumer, a rising star in the comedy world. If you haven't heard of her show "Inside Amy Schumer," then you’ve probably seen commercials and trailers for her movie that released this summer, "Trainwreck."

What’s fascinating about Amy Schumer is that she’s more than a comedian—she’s a feminist.

Schumer’s comedy is very distinct; she can seamlessly combine political and observational satire with topics related to sex and promiscuity. Her boldness in addressing certain issues like feminism, race, and sexual abuse make her stand out, and the one constant she has is her witty, sharp sense of humor that finds ways to connect with a wide audience.

"Inside Amy Schumer" showcases her straightforward perspective and merciless reflections on modern society. Not only is it hilarious, it’s identifiable for almost any young person in America.

"Trainwreck," Schumer’s first ever movie, proved to be as impressive as expected. While it was clever and hilarious, it was also surprisingly heartfelt. Instead of a typical rom com, in which the male lead has commitment issues or won’t give up the bachelor lifestyle, Schumer asserts that women, too, can be restricted. She portrays the modern woman, one who may value physical attraction over emotional dependence. "Trainwreck" is more than just a typical girl-meets-boy movie—instead, “it’s a love letter to [Amy’s] little sister.”

The movie revolves around Schumer’s struggle with maintaining relationships, whether they be with her sister, father, or romantic interests. Arguably, at the end of the movie, the strongest bond she has is with her younger sister. Schumer has managed to turn rom com tropes upside-down and create a beautiful movie about navigating relationships with loved ones, even if it means reconciling different lifestyle choices.

Amy Schumer has proven herself to be more than just a comedian. On multiple occasions and through many of her skits, she has spoken out about the unfair treatment of women. For example, her skit “Football Town Nights,” which aired on "Inside Amy Schumer," takes aim at the rape culture that is perpetuated throughout modern society. The skit portrays a high school football coach who forbids his players from raping; the players and the townspeople castigate the coach, but he stands firmly on his rule. The punchline in the skit is when the coach makes a speech cheering on male entitlements and aggression, a thin veil for rape.

Schumer has plenty of skits, like “The Last F*ckable Day,” in which she cleverly criticizes the gender bias against women in television. Schumer’s unabashed reflections on rape culture and the patriarchy are refreshing. It is incredibly hard to put such serious issues in a humorous light, but Schumer uses sarcasm and wit to engage her audience.

<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker" data-verified="redactor"></span>

Using that same sense of humor, Schumer delivered a brutally honest, heartbreaking speech last year in which she revealed a few of her experiences as woman in the public eye. The majority of the speech focused on a crass sexual encounter Schumer had as a college freshman, one that left her feeling desolate. She went on to talk about how she regained her confidence, and how she faces the struggles of being a woman.

“I am a woman with thoughts and questions and sh*t to say. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story—I will,” said Schumer while addressing body image and self-worth. That’s right, Amy Schumer, you tell them who’s boss.


Schumer’s uniqueness lies in her ability to be relatable. Just like everyone, she makes mistakes; what sets her apart from other comedians is that she takes responsibility for them. In the midst of her rise as a star, Schumer was accused of writing racist jokes in her earlier skits and stand-up shows. Admittedly, some of her earlier jokes could easily be construed as racist. However, Schumer’s response to these accusations was praise-worthy. After getting initial backlash to her racist jokes from past stand-up shows, Schumer tweeted this:


In defending her jokes, Schumer wrote that she “will joke about things you aren’t comfortable with... that includes making dumb jokes involving race.” From this tweet, Schumer doesn’t seem to accept any wrongdoing on her part, and instead maintains her rights to joke about any topic.

Later, when Schumer faced criticism again for making racist jokes in the past, she posted this:


This time, Schumer fully accepted responsibility for her actions, and admitted she was “evolving as any artist.” It’s easy for comedians to become defensive about their jokes, but it’s uncommon for them to apologize about it.

On July 23, there was a movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana at a screening of Trainwreck. Unfortunately, two people were killed and nine others were wounded. Schumer was devastated by this news and promised she would take action:


So far, Schumer has made good on her promise. She’s teamed up with her second cousin, Chuck Schumer, the Senator from New York, and proposed legislation that would make it more difficult for violent offenders to purchase firearms legally by securing more extensive background checks by the government.

Basically, Amy Schumer is a hilarious comedian who’s unafraid to approach any topic with some sarcasm and wit. More than that though, she’s a feminist and a celebrity who uses her influence to enact change.

You keep doing you Amy Schumer, we love you for it.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

74312
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

5893
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

9059
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments