- Question
Is the Met Gala distasteful?
The first Monday in May is a huge part of the fashion social calendar. Every year, the Met Gala is thrown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to benefit the Costume Institute. The event raises huge amounts of money, but is it just an excuse for capitalist worship of excess?
Yes, the Met Gala is distasteful
This position holds that the Met Gala is distasteful. It argues that the lavish fashion event is a capitalist worship of excess that glorifies money, and that its themes are frequently inappropriate — reinforcing stereotypes rather than treating their subjects with care.
No, the Met Gala is not distasteful
This position holds that the Met Gala is not distasteful. It argues that the event is fundamentally a charity fundraiser for the Met's Costume Institute, that it gives designers a stage to show their best work, and that it is enjoyable to watch and sparks global conversation.