Tracee Ellis Ross used this year's Met Gala theme to draw attention to the history of black people in camp, by showing up as a literal work of art.
This year's annual Met Gala theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion," not only gave celebs a opportunity to explore extreme fashion as a sense of escapism, but allowed them to show how much camp aesthetic influences mainstream culture. The term camp aesthetic originated in the early 1900's and refers to exaggerated, theatrical, or effeminate behavior.
The 46-year-old actress stunned in a floor-skimming black Moschino dress. She drew attention by holding up a gold picture frame in front of her face as she posed on the red carpet. In an Instagram post, Ross poses with actress Lena Waithe, who wore a blazer that had the words "Black drag queens invented camp" across the back.
In her post, Ross explains she was paying tribute to artist Lorraine O'Grady.
"RECLAIMING THE NARRATIVE ~ black camp thank you #lorraineogrady for existing and creating “art is,'" Ross wrote.
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Shelby Ivey Christie, a former Digital Marketer for Vogue Magazine, further explained the cultural nuance behind Ross's look:
"People used to show up to the African American Day parade in Harlem with frames around their faces!" She tweeted. "Lorraine O'Grady's 'Art Is' movement. Centering blackness as beauty. Reclaiming the narrative. BLACK CAMP!"
So cultural nuance of @TraceeEllisRoss’ look – People used to show up to the African American Day parade in Harlem with frames around their faces! Lorraine O’Grady’s ‘Art Is’ movement.
Centering blackness as beauty. Reclaiming the narrative. BLACK CAMP! #MetCamp
pic.twitter.com/OAA8EVFCDC— Shelby Ivey Christie (@bronze_bombSHEL) May 7, 2019
Won't she do it.
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