This year’s Met Gala is coming under fire (and brimstone) for its theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” Some people, like journalist and Celebrity Apprentice winner Piers Morgan, are using the gala’s theme to cry cultural appropriation of the Catholic religion.
People were quick to point out that critics were reaching, arguing that the definition of cultural appropriation wouldn’t extend to one of the most powerful churches in the world.
Twitter user Irma Hinojosa seemed particularly offended. Her Twitter profile says she’s Christian but doesn’t specify Catholic.
My religion is not your f*cking #MetGala dress. pic.twitter.com/s8xzpDw7jq
— Irma Hinojosa (@irmahinojosa_) May 8, 2018
It didn’t take long for people to call out her hypocrisy.
lmao pic.twitter.com/goir5SKQLz
— Paul Cooper (@PaulMMCooper) May 9, 2018
you dont want people to “talk down” on your religion but you think its ok to do it to other religions? the hypocrisy is strong right here pic.twitter.com/ZBQ2W0lnIi
— (@cheersmelanin) May 8, 2018
first of all you don't own the religion so sit down mate, second of all the pope approved it, third of all it's not discriminating anyone, fourth of all most of the people in the picture share that religion (yeah “that”, not “your” religion ) so back off & don't play the victim.
— cam (@LOSERL4NE) May 8, 2018
The Vatican gave this its seal of approval, lending approximately 50 pieces from the Sistine Chapel Sacrist! Also, the Archbishop of NY attended the ball. Also, the theme was about the Catholic representation of art, not actually about religion.
— Prishita (@Prishita_MA) May 8, 2018
You don’t have a patent on the Catholic religion? pic.twitter.com/hdbsdU5qZN
— tlami.co (@TlamelangNamane) May 8, 2018
This Twitter user tried to explain the difference:
Catholicism is not an oppressed culture, it’s a dominant culture. They are legit expressing through clothing the beauty of the works of the Church. You’re not oppressed, go help someone who is. pic.twitter.com/vPG5iJQIJc
— all we see is sky for forever (@allweseeisskyyy) May 10, 2018
Hinojosa wasn’t alone in her pearl clutching. Morgan also chimed in:
*NEW COLUMN*
If the Met Gala was Islam or Jewish-themed, all hell would break loose – so why was it OK for a bunch of flesh-flashing celebrities to disrespect MY religion?https://t.co/aXXTl8P5eE pic.twitter.com/MiLLlJFaSu— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2018
But people weren’t buying it, and they brought receipts:
Take it up with the Vatican, they sponsored the exhibit and the event. https://t.co/IiIbC9Nsu1
— A Black Woman's Account (@AnotherNerd4) May 8, 2018
Feels like, instead of feigning outrage, one could use this as an object lesson about how cultural exchange and appreciation doesn't have to constitute offensive appropriation. Archbishop Dolan seems to agree. https://t.co/sHMaaspehV
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 8, 2018
Hardly anyone is really offended or put off by this year's Met Gala appropriating Catholic symbols and iconography most likely because the Catholic Church is pretty much a global superpower. Appropriating these religious imagery does not hurt them or marginalize them in any way.
— ang manananggal sa 402-A (@hijadepusa) May 8, 2018
: The Catholic church will not be offended by the Met Gala 2018 simply becaus the gala preceeds the opening of an exhibition.
This year, the exhibition is co-organized by the church herself, entitled “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and The Catholic Imagination”. pic.twitter.com/aYFKTEfBI0
— Hanz (@HanzelEveryday) May 9, 2018
you cannot appropriate a culture/religion that has been violently forced on people all over the world for centuries… for millions of people it was literally christianity/catholicism or death… which is why it’s such a dominant religion today
— the illest&chillest (@KillaB_Banga) May 9, 2018
to come up with a “stop appropriating Catholicism” Met Gala take, you have to be ignorant of so many things like
1. power dynamics
2. the Catholic Church being a global appropriater
3. the Church's historic relationship with fashion and lavish aesthetics
honestly the list goes on— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) May 9, 2018
Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes played dumb.
Could somebody explain the rules about “cultural appropriation” and when we are supposed to be outraged again. Asking for a friend. pic.twitter.com/n7musKza53
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) May 8, 2018
The Cat Lady took his question at face value and happily answered. Me-OW!
1) the Vatican approved & personally donated 50+ items to the collection. Cultural appropriation requires lack of consent.
2) Cultural appropriation requires unequal power dynamics in favour of the appropriator. The Church is one of the most powerful institutions on earth https://t.co/5VNUvaNiF7
— cat lady (@NalediMashishi) May 8, 2018
One more thing to add, religion and culture are different. Especially religions that use conversion as a means of increasing power, influence & presence (as the Church has). Catholicism isn't a culture & has actually been quite destructive to other cultures via colonialism
— cat lady (@NalediMashishi) May 9, 2018
Also the theme was drawing on the opulence of the Catholic Church particularly the garb & the art. It's hardly representative of Christianity as a whole nor of the average Catholic who isn't dripping in gold
— cat lady (@NalediMashishi) May 9, 2018
The consensus was that the Catholic Church, a global superpower, was not harmed by the Met Gala or the art exhibit.
Hardly anyone is really offended or put off by this year's Met Gala appropriating Catholic symbols and iconography most likely because the Catholic Church is pretty much a global superpower. Appropriating these religious imagery does not hurt them or marginalize them in any way.
— ang manananggal sa 402-A (@hijadepusa) May 8, 2018
: The Catholic church will not be offended by the Met Gala 2018 simply becaus the gala preceeds the opening of an exhibition.
This year, the exhibition is co-organized by the church herself, entitled “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and The Catholic Imagination”. pic.twitter.com/aYFKTEfBI0
— Hanz (@HanzelEveryday) May 9, 2018
In a series of tweets The Met clarified the purpose of the exhibit:
Cardinal Timothy Dolan addresses attendees at the #MetHeavenlyBodies press preview. pic.twitter.com/kVGF7MGrZx
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
#MetHeavenlyBodies presents the “historic relationship between fashion, art, and religion inspiring one another and resulting in some of the most innovative creations in the history of fashion. “ —Daniel H. Weiss, The Met’s President and CEO #MetGala pic.twitter.com/VqGSEbSkk2
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
“Fashion and religion have long been intertwined, mutually inspiring and informing one another.” —Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The #CostumeInstitute #MetHeavenlyBodies pic.twitter.com/Iccser4byB
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
“The Catholic imagination is rooted in and sustained by artistic practice, and fashion’s embrace of sacred images, objects, and customs continues the ever-evolving relationship between art and religion.”—Daniel H. Weiss, The Met’s President and CEO #MetHeavenlyBodies #MetGala pic.twitter.com/eBmkv3vUmE
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
“While the fashions that are featured in the exhibition might seem far-removed from the sanctity of the Catholic Church, they should not be dismissed lightly, for they embody the storytelling traditions of Catholicism.”—Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge #MetHeavenlyBodies pic.twitter.com/IY8i9jGQcm
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
“The choir screen that dominates the Medieval Sculpture Hall serves as both a physical and conceptual divide between the earthly and celestial hierarchies.”—Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The #CostumeInstitute #MetHeavenlyBodies pic.twitter.com/7MVnTQZuel
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
150+ ensembles from the early 20th century to the present, on view in the Byzantine and medieval galleries, part of the Robert Lehman Wing, and at The #MetCloisters, provide an interpretive context for fashion’s engagement with Catholicism. #MetHeavenlyBodies #MetGala pic.twitter.com/r8HIG4elor
— The Met (@metmuseum) May 7, 2018
H/T: Twitter Moments
