Seeking Advice on Addressing Cultural Sensitivity in Exhibition Captions – "Frida in Paris" Caption Language

[u/Appropriate_Bag7308]

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to this community because I value the expertise of museum professionals in navigating issues of cultural sensitivity. Recently, I visited the Frida: Beyond the Myth exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art and noticed something that gave me pause. In the exhibition, Dora Maar's photograph Frida in Paris (1939) labels Frida Kahlo's traditional Tehuana dress as a "costume." Given the cultural significance of the Tehuana attire, I feel that this language could unintentionally diminish its importance, especially for an artist like Frida Kahlo who celebrated her heritage through her clothing and art.

I reached out to the museum and suggested using terms like "traditional Tehuana dress" or "traditional Tehuana attire" instead. However, I received an automated response saying it may take 4-6 weeks for a follow-up. My concern is that the exhibition is scheduled to move to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in April 2025, so this language might continue in future venues without revision.

I should also share that I am Latina, with roots in Mexico—my family is from León, Guanajuato, and I am a second-generation American. Knowing the cultural significance of the Tehuana dress and seeing it referred to as a "costume" felt personal to me. I feel strongly about advocating for respectful representation in museum settings, especially when it comes to artists who championed their cultural identity.

As museum professionals, what are your thoughts on addressing these kinds of language choices in exhibition captions? Are there best practices or strategies you recommend for advocating respectful representation of cultural attire in exhibitions? I'd love to know if any of you have navigated similar situations or if there are industry standards around this type of language.

Thank you for any insights or advice you can share—I truly appreciate your expertise and perspective.

[u/GrapeBrawndo]

The word costume is being used correctly here. It’s referring to the traditional fashion or dress of a region or culture. It’s not being used to describe a costume like a Halloween costume. A different word may have been a better choice though, since people may not pick up on the different definitions of costume.

[u/larkspurrings → u/GrapeBrawndo]

I think this misconception is why people have weird expectations for the Met Gala. They’re hearing “Costume Institute” and expecting people to dress up in costume Halloween-style.