National Poetry Slam 2014 Finals - "Collapse the Economy" Megan Falley & Olivia Gatwood

[@shealynnupchurch693]

Those who believe this is a proclamation of war on women who wear makeup and shave need to rewatch it until they get the point.

[@amalkhateeb6813]

it isn't a war on women. It's a war on men who thinks we need to wear makeup and shave

[@greer6416]

It's a war on the tax on all of female products

[@candrakellerby2596]

But aren’t they wearing makeup?

[@dand5411]

@@candrakellerby2596 you have to ask them

[@regenwharram8150]

@@candrakellerby2596 the point isn’t whether or not they’re wearing makeup, the point is that it should be a choice and women should be allowed to do what makes them feel like them. Whether it’s wearing makeup or not

[@solibaisa21]

I watched this while in a coffee shop and I sat there for ten minutes with my jaw wide open unable to acquire a proper vocabulary. Holy Jesus Christ the ending completely destroyed everything. That was simply outstanding and I am at a loss for words. Also to those who saw this as some radical feminism that is calling for you to destroy any form of the makeup institution: YOU DIDNT UNDERSTAND THIS PIECE. This poem is saying why are these things being used to condition us to believe that we are nothing and especially not beautiful without it? Why are these multi-billion dollar companies thriving off of the utter self-hatred of women? But most importantly, why are we allowing this to continue?

[@regenwharram8150]

YASSS SLAYYY

[@valeriaesparza4921]

these two girls are amazing

[@hannahmoffett4766]

These two are my favorite

[@max-hm6bx]

SAME

[@a_true_dreamer4860]

"Thank you for making us invisible. You will never see us coming" Blew me away

[@sentienttapioca5409]

Such a powerful closing line. Though, I suppose that's not the end. This may well only be the beginning. The beginning of an era most didn't know we needed.

[@sierra3934]

I don't like seeing "They're wearing makeup, they're hypocrites!" Thats not at all the message they were trying to send, & if thats the message you got, you should re watch this video. They clearly talked about how they "changed their outfit 5 times that morning" They aren't denying that they don't participate in these things, majority of women do. They're talking about how women are expected to always look their absolute best, and how we're taught to change things about ourselves to "look prettier" and "be better" it's not how things should be.

[@ladyturantulo]

Sierra Hildreth it could be organic makeup? you can do amazing things with almonds. :)

[@camarynclark-branden9226]

Sierra Hildreth You have a good point. But what I heard was "Studies predict, if women stopped BUYING cosmetic products and services, every economy in the world would collapse overnight.'"... C: ;3

[@daisyhorn6427]

+Camaryn Clark yeah, but they're obviously not literally saying we must all stop wearing makeup. they're saying WHAT IF we did. it's kind of a reminder that WE hold the power over the makeup industry, and not vice versa, and that we should never let it make us feel like we're not beautiful both with and without makeup. i love this poem :)

[@clariemaxwell5030]

(sorry I have more to add)there is a different video of these same people and saying the same slam poem, and they aren't wearing make up...

[@maddiebyrd223]

Olivia Gatwood is my spirit animal

[@jazminelangarica1409]

That last line... * mind BLOWN*

[@OmniPub-ZSaya]

OOOOOOOHHHH SHIIIITTTT I HAVE CHILLS THESE BITCHES NEED TO BE FAMOUS RIGHT NOW

[@graced1461]

i love how i had a garnier bb cream ad in the bottom of the screen

[@leavemealone1468]

lol, me too.

[@meganphillips1033]

this is honestly one of the best slams I've ever seen

[@andreabair2120]

I want everyone in the world to see this.

[@calismith1852]

Just so everyone knows, the words cosmetic products isn't just referring just to make up. Things like razors, and fake nails, flat irons. Those are all used to change us. That was the point guys. I wish you all listened to the actual meaning and not just the words.

[@amberelizabethmcvaugh2069]

This wasn't to insult the use of make-up as an art form. This is feminism and I don't think it's radical in the slightest. How sick is it that women feel like they have to be those airbrushed models? Thin? Beautiful? Perfect 24/7. Spend so much money on make-up to try and achieve that fake look they'll never get? It's disgusting. It's not hypocritical for them to be wearing make-up as they slam it. It's not make-up itself that they're slamming. It's the fact that we're expected to objectify ourselves for other people.

[@niamh3917]

I love these girls. Their poetry and performances are amazing

[@CheyenneVFilm]

The echoing makes it hard to hear.

[@Kingdada385]

They are so awesome. I keep sharing it.

[@Zach-si1gf]

@Lindsey Snyder I think they do understand that, as they are both groomed well, and are not shaming the women who use these products but venting their anger at the industry as a whole.

[@AngieBabe99]

When they are together they are unstoppable 🙌👏

[@adishashaikh47]

goosebumps. literal goosebumps. i keep coming back to this again and again and it never ever fails to blow my mind.

[@kiannaestrada7698]

I love watching them but I hate how the echo makes the audio sound all weird :(

[@RondaGuptonPruett]

This is one of my favorites videos, let alone one of the best in slam poetry! Due to the sound in this huge venue and the well deserved cheering from the audience at the 2014 finals, some parts are hard to hear so I'm posting the original video to see Olivia Gatwood & Megan Falley perform this at a smaller venue where you can hear every word. And to these two women... THANK YOU! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKKViqSZeL5gqrs

[@justbrinley9666]

honestly, this poem changed my life.

[@sam-ot7ev]

This deserves so many more likes.

[@firyalart6916]

honestly i can barely hear what they're saying from the echo but i liked watching how angry and badass they look

[@lucie9579]

firyal subtitles work really good

[@asseater0077]

This was some real shit

[@Hope4Life26]

Every word...wow just wow! That last line was too incredible!

[@laogen]

"This isn't even silly; it is the death of art." - Harold Bloom Right as usual.

[@edenaugustine]

So. Many. Chills.

[@MzNini1122]

This gives me goosebumps every time ❤️

[@123belieber1]

These girls are amazing!

[@gaytheist6704]

this is the greatest

[@jacobceniceros1777]

People need to wait until the end to cheer.

[@Mary-wf4tb]

You Ladies are Awesome! Thank You! Loved, Loved the final line!

[@fatimatariq4350]

I love them but the audio is so ew

[@amalkhateeb6813]

the same one is on button poetry and the audio is way better

[@AikiraBeats]

Bro that was straight fire

[@sarahduncan2712]

Lindsey Snyder : I understand what you mean, but I think it's more that they're saying that any economy could fall apart if women stopped buying into cosmetics is ridiculous in itself, because the media and the social standard for women have made this possible. And women don't want to stop using products of course, they are entitled to them, as everyone is. But the fact that such a big part of the economy is women trying to better themselves because society demands it, is awful. Yes, you can dress how you want. You don't have to wear makeup to please anyone but yourself. But in what magazine does it show the proper way to piss off any misogynistic asshole on the street, by wearing something in your comfort zone? I think it's an important message to people that it can go either way. Hell yeah; you wear that lipstick you love. Wear those shoes you bought, even though your boyfriend says they make you too tall. You don't have to conform to what society thinks is pretty, but if every single woman on this planet was able to play a part in bringing down the economy, this would definitely be the way to do it.

[@MCHellshit]

sarah duncan Nice mental gymnastics to justify delusional hyprocisy. You women cant be trusted for shit. Fun fact: Men dont care about makeup or heels, shithead

[@ryankim9749]

+MCHellshit Preach it, brother

[@whitneywarner3405]

I love these 2!!!!!

[@mayjohnson9879]

THIS WAS AMAZING, yall made a great pair just nothing but love, very strong performance

[@wmorris3484]

These ladies are great

[@laurynjones849]

this poem... oh my god speechless

[@hello.kitty4201]

1:16 just hit so deep

[@Esther22755]

AMAZING

[@jacquelinejames2999]

this is the best thing ive heard in my life

[@breannaburns6359]

OMG I love you guys... this is amazing

[@maximilian420]

I fucking love this.

[@BigSleep666]

This is so good.

[@DoomsdayDollie]

Some of you have completely missed the point. The idea is that women have been conditioned to believe that you have to shave, wear makeup, dye your hair, paint your nails all so others will find you attractive. They keep saying "How I did ___ for you" when really you don't have to do ANYTHING. If it makes you feel good, thats one thing.

[@Vaelkyr666]

This is fucking great!

[@briwhite1606]

IM LAUGHING I LOVE THIS

[@jojochang1374]

Amazing.

[@Danvichie98]

Chills

[@kalanikaaiawaawa7411]

I love it

[@M0rganE8894]

anyone know the study Olivia referenced in the beginning of the poem. Wanted to use it as a source for my pop culture class

[@elizag100]

what an ending

[@onecircle1]

The sound on this is terrible. It is too hard to hear that whatever they are saying is mute because the medium ( bad audio) has destroyed the message.

[@SuperNaturallyTuned]

Yes

[@LiYuan2131]

Woots woots !!!!

[@emadevaney5418]

they mentioned the wage gaps, guess what, wage gaps have been illegal since the 1960's, otherwise, I somewhat liked it

[@EgLupi]

Ema DeVaney guess what so has drugs, and murder. News flash still happens

[@amberdurney9652]

When we doing this tho 🤭

[@skyesnowflakes]

Last line though.

[@nikkiwebb5134]

Damn...

[@2muchWack]

Is this in Seattle?

[@elboinator]

FLAT

[@GracefulLady20]

What are these girls names?

[@RondaGuptonPruett]

Olivia Gatwood & Megan Falley

[@thomasmckonigal4191]

This is absolutely astounding!:) My only comment, they're wearing make up...

[@hailieshears7483]

o hi

[@lindseysnyder4461]

I love their work and have seen many of their other slam poems, but I don't agree with all of this one. By slamming makeup and bras and other beauty products, they are therefore shamming the women who like to use them. I agree with the Cosmo part and the idea that we are coerced into cookie cutter image of pretty, but I think they should have gone down the path of "I wear makeup/clothing/hairstyles/I shave for me, not for anyone else"

[@mandyschmidt7164]

Lindsey Snyder they are not shaming the women who wear makeup. They are shaming companies who make women feel insecure so they can make a quick buck

[@ellis7878]

Lindsey Snyder I think it’s about how women are expected to look their absolute best at any given moment no matter what. They were wearing makeup! They were just trying to say that they don’t always have to be 100 percent ready for a photo shoot every living second of their lives

[@kuma477]

i was 30 seconds in before i had to pause this... not every man wants women to be objects, this isnt the early 20th century guys!

[@sambaker1417]

RadioSparkz No, not every man does. But what are YOU doing about the ones who do?

[@pureloudermilk5711]

ture

[@killjoy6666]

I cringed at the microphones, couldn't they just take a step back?

[@yalen3054]

This is awesome, tomorrow im throwing away all my makeup and anyone who mentions it can suck it 👌🔥

[@BabyBat14]

I loved so many of their poems, but this one just sounds so wrong to me. I just can't stand this modern feminism. Of course, sometimes (ok, most of the time) cosmetics come associated with that one "perfect" look. But I believe that make up is ART, and it's meant to highlight our beauty and paint it like a blank canvas full of possibilities. I only wish people would stop judging so much! You wanna do real feminism? Let people be who they are. Just...let it be.

[@LemonPetrichor]

I agree, but this poem is specifically addressing how corporations make women feel insecure so they buy more products. Makeup is a great form of self expression, and should be celebrated as a type of living art. But fueling insecurities to make money is wrong, and devoid of any strong morals.

[@BabyBat14]

Qualitea_ Agree completely with your point.

[@fatima.elfakahany]

S'cuse me, but "modern feminism" is still "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men." No one changed the definition. It means the same thing. All they're saying here is that these companies are specifically targeting women to feel horrible about themselves so they'll buy their products, and it's a call to not listen to them. If you take it as feminism, then it is. If you think makeup is art, good for you! You haven't listened to big corporations who want you to think it's going to make you desirable--as if you aren't already. "Real feminism" also advocates for people to do what they want and be who they are---but also for both genders to be treated EQUALLY when they do it.

[@BabyBat14]

LoveMusic538 You see, I indeed I used a wrong therm, but by "Modern Feminism" I mean "Radical Feminism". I do understand your point of view and I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway. :)

[@fatima.elfakahany]

Beatriz C. Pereira Nah, it's all good. There's radical everything these days, and I get where you're coming from. I just thought you might be one of those "Women Against Feminism" people...so I apologize for making assumptions. No offense meant, as well.

[@ilyem999]

Takes note of the eyeliner and mascara they are wearing and the hair products they used. Fine if it's just a poem but please don't pretend it's a call to action because that would make you a hypocrite,

[@jamie047]

it seems to me they aren't wearing makeup, you can't see eyeliner from the side views or front as well. mascara im quite sure as well. we'll never know

[@jessiechafin5835]

Lady, you are missing the whole damn point of this poem. They don't say that they don't wear it, they actually admit to wearing it. They are just defining the struggle that most girls go through with having the need to look perfect. And they are tired of it. THAT was the point

[@daisyhorn6427]

+The Soft Glow of Brightly Burning Hope the point isn't "we should all actually stop wearing makeup". the point is to remind us that WE hold the power over the beauty industry, and not vice versa, and that we should ever be made to feel like we're not beautiful with or without cosmetic products and services.

[@emilyespeseth]

She's a feminist but she saved her armpits

[@allysonbowen4256]

yeah, since she can decide to do whatever she wants to her body

[@jameskelly9498]

Do they not understand economics. Firstly, collapsing the economy would destroy the world. Secondly, their point about women not buying into the cosmetics industry would collapse the economy. Total rubbish, their are more than one industry out there and the cosmetics industry would still thrive because of men buying into the cosmetics industry, in fact it would do better if they are focussing on one market.

[@peppermintprincess73]

+James Kelly you are missing the point -_-

[@mysteryswordstudios]

This is like a buzzfeed article in poetry form. Ugh.

[@BetterLifeAhead35]

Had to stop it first few lines in. So everyone needs to stop buying cosmetics, yet they're on stage wearing makeup? And I'm sick of people equating makeup with insecurity. Some people just enjoy it

[@emilyechavarria3824]

BetterLifeAhead It really doesn't look like they're wearing makeup, but okay.

[@Sav7rocks]

I think it's more metaphorical the poem is demeaning the idea of ideal female beauty, that society says that women need all these cosmetic products to be beautiful

[@daisyhorn6427]

+BetterLifeAhead you stopped a few lines in, so clearly you don't understand the whole poem. it's not about wearing makeup. it's about attacking the industry that pressures women into buying expensive crap so they can be beautiful, flawless, perfect. it's about taking beauty back from a society where it's sold at high prices by making women insecure and unhappy. They're not really saying "women shouldn't wear makeup" what they're really saying is "fuck you, we are flawless with or without it". Women are perfectly entitled to go under the knife, shave, fake tan etc. but isn't it a mad fucked up idea when you really look at it? this idea that beauty and perfection are only achievable through danerous expensive unnatural procedures? that's what this poem is about.

[@booeymew]

If they watched their language I might have some respect for them they obviously put on makeup and spent hours trying to look perfect so why slam what they're participating in

[@johnwoodbridge4028]

Well, considering the size of the U.S makeup market is around 62$ billion (including male consumption) out of an economy that's the size of 18$ trillion. No, if all women stopped consuming makeup and beauty products tomorrow the impact would be mild to negligible. What a faulty and stupid premise this poem is based on. Second, why would you want to collapse an economy which you as a consumer and worker participate in?! It makes no sense. I don't see some enlightened proud women, I see two economic illiterates.

[@renesmee142]

this shit is wrong

[@DallasBall]

why?

[@yarelithebookhuntr3427]

Chills