The annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’ s Costume Institute – The Met Ball, also known as the Met Gala – was recently (USA’s 4th of May) held in New York City. This years theme was China: Through the Looking Glass, celebrating that as the theme for the Costume Institute Fashion Exhibit for this year. As the society that we are, majority of people that happened to be somewhat interested in the event, were concerned about what moves each invited guest would take in regards to what would be seen as respectful of Chinese culture.
As an audience, watching the celebrities walking the red carpet, sprung a range of comments, critiques and praises about the approaches fashionistas took in being culturally sensitive towards the Chinese theme. Those consuming from all sorts of media platforms create the conversation of what is “hot” and what is seen to be completely inappropriate. To misinterpret the theme could create an extremely bad, somewhat racist label that any celebrity would not want tied to their name. After on today’s lectorial about audiences and how important they are in the grand scheme of things, it lead me to reflect on the fact that they (an audience) may not sway celebrities to make their fashion decisions, however, they are the ones that can create generate a whirlwind of backlash if their choices go down the wrong way.
What was taught in this weeks lecture was that :the audience holds the power. Really, what would anything or anyone be if they did not have an audience? Perhaps that’s why there was not flood of fashion risks amongst our celebs, many who I believe were not game enough to fully embrace Chinese culture and fashion. Whats worse than creating a bad image for yourself trying to emulate the Chinese in the world is constantly battling with cultural appropriation?
On a lighter note, here’s Rhianna who has literally won the whole event, actually wearing a Chinese designer, in a dress that took two years to make and needed people to help her walk, as the train restricted her from doing so herself (you may have seen the dress on the internet as a meme today).
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