Cancellation Culture
The culture of cancellation, a form of change that generates polarization
Our group: Ana Brenner, Arthur Bitten, Eric Maldaner and Matheys Chiyoshi; did a research project on the cancel culture, a form of boycott in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – either online on social media, in the real world, or both. The results found were of a larger scale than we have imagined.
Great brands, celebrities, politicians or ordinary citizens: no one is safe from the “culture of cancellation ”, which denounces the mistakes of each one and demands that the person redeem himself, to the point that some complain about the excesses and their contribution to political polarization.
Keith Hampton
Current professor of Media and Information at the University of Michigan said, "When it comes to trying to destroy people, it creates other problems." and "shame and pointing fingers do not change opinions,". He also believes that cancel culture is likely to increase polarization.
Richard Ford
American writer claims social media “incites provocation and anger”.
Draws attention to the fact that the culture of cancellation may be spreading beyond social networks, the academic world and work in general. "Sometimes the goal is simply to be satisfied with taking someone down."
According to ‘Dictionary.com’, “cancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. Cancel culture is generally discussed as being performed on social media in the form of group shaming.”
More than 150 artists, writers and intellectuals published in Harper's Magazine an open letter against "the climate of intolerance that has set in on all sides", echoing criticisms of the so-called culture of cancellation.
J. K. Rowling
British writer, screenwriter and film producer, notorious for writing the Harry Potter book series.
Noam Chomsky
American linguist, philosopher, sociologist, cognitive scientist, commentator and political activist, revered in the academic field as "the father of modern linguistics", also one of the most renowned figures in the field of analytical philosophy.
Margaret Atwood
Internationally recognized Canadian writer, novelist, poet, short story writer, essayist and literary critic.
As users of social networks, like Twitter, we see the culture of cancellation as something extremely hasty and dangerous for the career of many artists. We do not think it is at all appropriate for people to think that they have the right to judge a person to the point of canceling them, just by their action at a single moment. That being said, we agree with all criticism against any form of social group shaming.