The enigma that is cancel culture

By Emma Clark ‘21

Cancel culture is complicated, toxic and arguably necessary. Some argue that it is a vital form of holding celebrities accountable while others argue that it is simply too harsh. This begs the question: is there a happy medium to be found? 

According to Wikipedia, cancel culture is “a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles - either online on social media, in the real world, or both. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to be ‘canceled.’” 

In most cases, the public uses cancel culture to keep celebrities in check. For example, in March, Ellen Degeneres, a beloved TV personality and pioneer for the LGBTQ+ community, was accused of mistreating her staff and others. 

Numerous stories on Twitter surfaced. Some recalled her almost getting a server with chipped nail polish fired. Others alluded to her adverse behavior while filming, including barring crew members from eating meat and demanding that everyone chew gum before entering her office. 

It was clear that Degeneres’ cherished on-screen personality was nowhere to be seen.

The beneficial aspect of cancel culture is that it allows the public to hold celebrities accountable for their adverse actions. 

Catlin Gabel School (CGS) English teacher Brett Mathes agrees with this statement. 

“I see good in holding the powerful accountable and in the empowerment of people who have been disenfranchised, for example, as we’ve seen in the #MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movements,” he said. 

Unfortunately, it can also have the opposite effect and instead “incite violence and threats even worse than the original offense.”

CGS senior Thea Traw shares the same sentiment. 

“A canceling that goes so far as to cause someone to receive death threats should not stand,” she said. “But also people should be accountable for the content they share with the world.” 

A similar question we should be asking ourselves, as consumers, is whether or not we should separate the “art” from the “artist.” Should we continue to enjoy and support the Ellen show, even after learning about the despicable behavior and actions behind the scenes?

Traw describes her opinion on the matter. 

“I don't think it is wrong for someone to have enjoyed watching her shows, or to even continue to enjoy them,” she said. “What a consumer does need to have, though, is context. It must be a conscious decision to ingest art – because it is a wider picture than just the words on the page or the pixels on a screen.”

Mathes had a similar opinion. 

“I don’t think we should ignore the artist when we look at art – we can understand the flaws of art and artists and respond with a critical mind to both. We learn the most when we place art in cultural context, including by keeping a sharp eye on inequities and injustices in that cultural context.”

Cancel culture, while necessary, could always be improved so that rather than ostracizing those who have made mistakes, we can instead help them learn and grow.