Sarah Mitchell
The 2018 Met Gala's theme, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, sparked controversy, with some Catholics accusing the event of cultural appropriation and disrespect. The gala, known for its celebrity attendance and fashion focus, featured religious costumes and symbols, including Rihanna's papal outfit and cross motifs. While some saw it as offensive and sacrilegious, trivializing Catholic traditions, others viewed it as a positive engagement with religion, blurring the lines between the secular and the religious. The Vatican's involvement added complexity, with critics questioning their participation and permission. The event ignited discussions about the separation of religion and culture, the appropriateness of religious themes in fashion, and the potential for mockery or disrespect towards religious traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
| Theme | Catholic Church, Catholicism, Catholic-themed |
| Event | Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala |
| Exhibition | Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination |
| Accusations | Sexualising, commodifying, undermining, cultural appropriation, religious appropriation, mockery, disrespect |
| Response | Some found it offensive, some not |
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What You'll Learn
Celebrities sexualising, commodifying, and undermining Catholicism
The 2018 Met Gala, themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", sparked controversy among Catholics and religious conservatives who accused the event of "religious appropriation". Critics argued that celebrities sexualised, commodified, and undermined Catholicism by treating sacred religious symbols and garb as profane, promoting vulgar and socially irresponsible consumerism.
Rihanna's papal outfit, complete with a mitre, Greta Gerwig's nun-like ensemble, and Ariana Grande's gown printed with the Sistine Chapel ceiling were among the outfits deemed disrespectful. Anne Hathaway's crown of thorns and Sarah Jessica Parker's headpiece replicating a Neapolitan nativity scene were also criticised as trivialising Catholic traditions.
Some commentators defended the event, arguing that it encouraged engagement with Catholicism and religion more broadly, even among non-believers. They suggested that the integration of religious and secular elements reflected the multifaceted nature of religion in society. Additionally, the Vatican's approval and participation in the exhibition lent a degree of legitimacy to the event.
However, critics maintained that the use of Catholic imagery as fashion statements reduced their religion to a trend, with one commentator expressing that they "can't imagine [their] religion being mocked in such a way". The Met Gala's treatment of Catholicism was likened to cultural appropriation, with the implication that there would be greater outrage if other religions were similarly treated.
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Cultural and religious appropriation
The 2018 Met Gala, themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", sparked controversy, with some critics accusing the event of cultural and religious appropriation and disrespect towards the Catholic religion.
The Met Gala, an annual fundraising event for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, often features themes that celebrate individual designers, subcultures, or countries. The 2018 Catholic-themed event drew criticism from religious conservatives who felt that it sexualised, commodified, and undermined the Catholic religion and church. Rihanna's papal outfit, Greta Gerwig's nun-like ensemble, and Anne Hathaway's crown of thorns were among the controversial costumes that provoked accusations of cultural appropriation.
Some Catholics found the event and its use of religious symbols and garb to be profane and sacrilegious, promoting consumerism rather than genuine religious engagement. They argued that their religion was being used as a costume or a trend, reducing their sacred traditions to a fashion statement. The event also sparked discussions about the separation of the religious and the religious-inspired, with some arguing that religion is inherently intertwined with culture, politics, art, and economics.
However, others saw the Met Gala's Catholic theme as a positive engagement with religion, creating a dialogue between the secular and the religious. They argued that it showed a willingness to engage with religion in a healthy and promising way, especially in a climate of increasing polarisation. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for interactions between attendees and Catholic clergy, fostering a broader conversation about faith and religion.
While the Vatican approved the theme and lent various garments and accessories for the exhibition, some questioned their decision, suggesting that the religious artefacts were being abused and that the Vatican should have protested. The controversy also led to discussions about the double standards of cultural appropriation, with some commenting that there would have been a much bigger outcry if another religion had been the theme.
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Vulgar and irresponsible consumerism
The 2018 Met Gala, themed around the Catholic Church and the influence of Catholicism on fashion, received criticism for being disrespectful and appropriating the Catholic religion.
Some attendees paid tribute with subtle cross motifs and ornate jewels, while others went all-out: Rihanna wore a papal outfit, Greta Gerwig wore a nun-like ensemble, and Ariana Grande wore a gown printed with the Sistine Chapel. Many Catholics thought the event appropriated their religion into a fashion statement, with some calling it "disrespectful" and "profane".
The event was accused of sexualising, commodifying, and undermining the Catholic religion and church, with attendees being referred to as "walking around in slutty costumes using religious accoutrements in clearly profane ways". The use of religious symbols and garb to promote consumerism was deemed "vulgar and socially irresponsible".
However, it is important to note that the Vatican approved of the exhibit and lent the Met Museum about 40-50 garments and accessories. Some also argue that the event encouraged healthy engagement with religion and that Catholics are well-represented in popular culture, so they should not complain about cultural appropriation in the same way that other groups might.
The Met Gala's Catholic theme has sparked debates about the separation of the "religious" and the "religious-inspired," with some arguing that religion is inherently intertwined with culture, politics, art, and economics. Ultimately, the event sparked a range of reactions, from excitement and engagement to accusations of vulgar and irresponsible consumerism and disrespect.
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Mocking Catholicism
The 2018 Met Gala's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", centred around the Catholic Church and the influence of Catholicism on fashion. While some saw the event as a positive engagement with the faith, others criticised it as mocking and disrespectful to the Church.
Some attendees paid tribute to the theme with cross motifs and ornate jewels, while others went further: Rihanna wore a papal outfit, Greta Gerwig dressed as a nun, Ariana Grande wore a gown printed with the Sistine Chapel, and Zendaya wore armour inspired by Joan of Arc. Anne Hathaway wore a crown of thorns, and Sarah Jessica Parker wore a headpiece replicating a Neapolitan nativity scene.
Many Catholics and religious conservatives accused the Met Gala of "religious appropriation", claiming that it involved celebrities sexualising, commodifying, and undermining the Catholic religion and Church. One commentator wrote, "My religion is not your costume", and another tweeted, "Among the worst things I've ever seen in my life. Heresy at its finest." Some suggested that there would have been a much bigger outcry if a different religion had been chosen as the theme.
Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest, tweeted about how he was told he had dressed up as a "sexy priest", and that many people did not recognise him as an actual priest. He said, "I don't think they were trying to be offensive... [but] it was profane or sacrilegious about this 'gala' [that] was the use of religious symbols and garb to promote the most vulgar and socially irresponsible consumerism."
Some commentators, however, saw the event as a positive engagement with Catholicism. One writer for America Magazine observed that it was thrilling to watch so many people engage with the faith and religion with zeal, and that the event showed a willingness to engage with religion in a healthy and promising way. Another commentator noted that the juxtaposition of objects belonging to the Vatican and made by contemporary designers was a good representation of the church as it exists.
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Separation of the religious and religious-inspired
The 2018 Met Gala, themed around the influence of Catholicism on fashion and clothing, was criticised by some for appropriating and profaning the Catholic religion. Celebrities drew from Catholic art and iconography, with outfits including Nativity headpieces, angel wings, and papal outfits.
Some commentators accused the Met Gala of "religious appropriation", arguing that it involved celebrities sexualising, commodifying, and undermining the Catholic religion and church. They viewed the event as a mockery of their religion, with one commentator stating, "My religion is not your costume".
However, others saw the Met Gala as a positive engagement with Catholicism. They argued that the event encouraged people, both Catholic and non-Catholic, to interact with the faith and religion enthusiastically. Furthermore, they pointed out that the separation of "the religious" and the "religious-inspired" is abstract and unhelpful. Religion, from both religious studies and faith perspectives, is intertwined with culture, politics, art, and economics, and cannot be neatly categorised or separated from secular life.
The Vatican's involvement in the Met Gala by providing garments and accessories for the exhibition further complicates the issue of separation. While some may view this collaboration as a respectful dialogue between religious and secular institutions, others may perceive it as a blurring of boundaries that leads to the profanation of religious symbols and garb.
Ultimately, the Met Gala's Catholic-themed event sparked a debate about the complex interplay between religion and popular culture, raising questions about cultural appropriation, freedom of expression, and the role of religious institutions in contemporary society.
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Frequently asked questions
The Met Gala in 2018 had a Catholic theme, with the official title "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination". Many Catholics thought that the event appropriated their religion into a fashion statement and accused the organisers of "religious appropriation". Some attendees wore outfits that included Nativity headpieces and angel wings, which were deemed offensive by some. However, the Vatican had approved of the exhibit and lent the Met Museum about 50 garments and accessories for the show.
Rihanna wore a papal outfit, Greta Gerwig wore a nun-like ensemble, and Ariana Grande wore a gown printed with the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Anne Hathaway wore a crown of thorns, and Sarah Jessica Parker wore a kitschy headpiece that was a replica of a Neapolitan nativity scene.
Father Martin, a Catholic priest, said that he did not think the attendees were trying to be offensive. He said, "Pope Francis likes to say, you try to meet people where they are, right? And that night they were at the Met Gala. So you meet them there."
