Recently, the idea that a person can be culturally “canceled” — in other words, blocked from having a prominent public platform or career — has become a polarizing topic of debate. In some cases, such as the Me Too and BLM movements, cancel culture has been heralded as a way to allow marginalized people a voice and a tool that allows them to seek accountability where the justice system fails. To them, cancel culture is a kind of cultural boycott, akin to the Civil Rights movement, or a tactic that can be used to bring about social change.
On the other hand, critics of cancel culture argue that it leads to intolerance as people systematically exclude anyone who disagrees with their views. They feel that cancel culture is really just mass cyberbullying and is frequently driven by fear, with members of the canceling group joining in for fear of being canceled themselves. To them, cancel culture does not bring about real social change because it banishes and disposes of people while failing to interact with them.
YOUR TASK: In a 4-6 page paper, choose one of the following to build your thesis around:
Is cancel culture good for society? Why or why not?
Here are some questions you might think about to define your own position on cancel culture. You do not have to answer all of these questions in your essay; they are just to get you started. What is cancel culture? When did the phenomenon begin and why? Why is it so prominent now? Who are some celebrities who have been cancelled and what for? At what point does someone’s politically incorrect freedom of speech (however racist or bigoted) cross over into the abyss of cancel justice? What’s good or socially progressive about cancel or call-out culture? What’s bad or problematic? What other trends in society does cancel culture connect to? In what cases does a cancelled person deserve a shot at redemption? Are there cases or actions where being cancelled forever is warranted?
Is cancel culture good for society? Why or why not?
