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Writer's pictureCharlotte Lewis

AOC and performative activism: The Met Gala 2021

On Sunday Night, celebrities graced the red carpet at ‘fashions biggest night out’ (Vogue, 2021). The Met gala, a charity event with a ticket price of $40,000 takes place every year and has a different theme every time. With this year’s theme being “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, celebrating everything America, right in the heart of New York. As soon is it started, the usual discourse ensued, with some celebrities ‘understanding the assignment’ and many not. However, one of the most talked about dresses was not on an actress, a singer, a model, or a sports person. The dress in question worn by congresswoman, Alexandra Ocasio- Cortez (AOC).


A simple white dress that on the back read, ‘TAX THE RICH’. Cortez later, on Instagram posted a picture of herself of the dress with the caption ‘the medium is the message. Proud to work with @aurorajames as a sustainably focused, Black woman immigrant designer… The time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the rich’. AOC has been mocked, mostly by right wing publications, for being a hypocrite. After all, how can someone attending a prestigious event like this not see themselves as part of the problem. Alas, AOC is not part of the problem, she is part of the solution, we know her salary as congresswoman, around $170,000 per annum, we know before this she was on $30,000. She has been working class all her life, right up until she became congresswoman for the democratic party. She is actively involved in the fight for healthcare, childcare, and climate action, so she has every right to say this. A statement like this in a room full of the social elite, is quite effective in starting a conversation within the public sphere, however, is lost on the attendees who will no doubt turn a blind eye to the message.


AOC must be applauded for her consistency, using a sustainable independent designer instead of a multimillion-dollar corporation was a smart move, or else she would no doubt be heckled for that. The designer Aurora James told Vogue “We must always continue to push ourselves, push our colleagues, push the culture, and push the country forward. Fashion is changing; America is changing,” This message fit the theme, instead of looking to Americas past looking to its future.


Many on twitter have criticised AOC saying : “One of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen,” tweeted activist @hexthekyriarchy. “While constituents she failed are being evicted or wondering how they’re gonna eat tonight, @AOC out here living large at the #MetGala. Wearing a dress that says #TaxTheRich but will do nothing to make it a reality.”


As well as this, the dress is it is a bit too literal, when it comes to the Met gala fashion must be interesting and clever to gain appraisal. As much of a statement as the dress is, it remains a simple white dress with a message , lacking the usual quirks of the Met. An at its crux, the met is still a display of wealth and social elitism, I think the message would be stronger if AOC snuck into the Met in protest rather being on the guestlist.


According to Fisher, 'capitalist realism has so captured public thought that the idea of anti-capitalism no longer acts as the antithesis to capitalism. ... This is done through media which aims to provide a safe means of consuming anti-capitalist ideas without actually challenging the system.' This is what AOC is doing, she is engaging in an event for the social elites, reinforcing the fact that ,as a congresswoman, she too is a part of this club. This sends a more polarising message to the public. A great example of neo-liberalism that will probably bring her up in the polls with the trendy, politically active youth.


Instagram @aoc , 2021


Rooksby, E. (2012). Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?, Mark Fisher, Winchester: Zero Books, 2009. Historical Materialism 20, 1, 222-231

@aoc on instagram



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