What is up with "Cancel Culture"??

The year 2020 has been an interesting year full of ups and downs that have accompanied this unexpected pandemic. We learned how to be grateful for our lives and what or who we have, we have reconnected or grown closer to people. If it were not for this pandemic, I would not have reconnected with a good friend from university that I have not spoken to for three years. We became more aware about racial inequalities and learned to become more aware about our actions. This is good and shows positive progress. However, there is a fine line between being aware and forbidding any sort of mention of anything perceived negative. This, I find comes along with the phenomenon of the recent trend of "cancel culture."

According to Dictionary.com, Cancel Culture is defined as:

“the popular practice of withdrawing support for (cancelling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive”.

Though this term is not new--2019 was when this term came about--the pandemic has led to an increase in the number of cancelled cases. A few cases that may be well known are of Kathy Griffin when she posed with a mask of Donald Trump drenched in red blood-like substance that looked beheaded. Her image caused backlash--with a number of Twitter commentators, and the Trumps calling her out or giving her threats. Now, although I find the pose a little out-there/shocking--theses reactions may have been a little too extreme. Griffin is after all a comedian. Her style of humour in this case may have been dark but she meant it in a comedic manner. People should have taken into account her occupation as a comedian and tried to understand it, just like many do with The Crown on Netflix on the topic of the portrayal of Charles and Camilla. Many were well aware that the show is a drama, and historical-fiction, so of course the particular relationships between characters and the events would have been dramatised for the sake of tension and viewers' interest.

* We have to keep in mind that the comedians were simply mocking populations or figures that still hold ideas that are wrong or outdated today. The show or the actors themselves do not necessarily hold the same values as the characters they portray.

Similarly, with Ellen Degeneres undergone backlash from claims of mistreatment, rude behavior by staff, audience members, even a previous guest to the shows, NikkieTutorials. This led to the firing of some producers that mistreated staff which was a good step. Yet, Degeneres was subject to claims on her rude behavior that contrasted the charismatic, "be kind" statement that she is tied to as a TV show host. She received numerous claims on their experiences and the need to cancel her--get her to step away from the show since her real behavior didn't fall in line with the encouragements she makes on tv. Degeneres tried to explain her behavior--putting reason for her introverted personality. I agree that this is a surprising find since it is far from her witty charismatic personality on tv. I agree that she should have improved her socialisation skills after long years of doing her job. What I don't agree with is the harsh constant picking conducted online on her since she is just a human with feelings, and there are plenty of actors or other public figures that have even worse behaviors than what was said of Degeneres. I am glad that her show is still on air, and I only hope that she has learned her lesson and has become more sociable since.

Next is a topic I feel the need to address is the events that occurred following the Black Lives Movement. I did not participate in the outdoor marches in protest. However, I maintained support for the movement with donations to organisations in support of them and in posting about the movement and African American facts and history on social media. As an American of colour, I sympathise with the need for equality and positive change toward the African-American community. After all, they have suffered long histories of slavery, Jim Crow, continuous discrimination, suspicion today just from their appearance. They are more likely to be imprisoned, be in poverty, etc. As an Asian, I have experienced various cases of mild stereotypes and discrimination. I vividly remember having white girls direct fox eyes at me--and for a while I dislike the shape of my eyes. I never really experienced the "Where are you really from?" or "Oh my gosh, your English is so good!" since I have an easy response as an immigrant with international school experience. Us Asians are, unfortunately, labelled the "model minority"--"the idea that all non-white Americans can be academically and financially successful if they just work harder" (centerforhealthprogress.org). This creates a divide between various people of colour--as only the ones that seem to work hard are put in a higher position of liking. This outlook does not do justice to the African American community as they are often stereotyped as lazy, angry or unprofessional. I have heard this being said by many Asians around me which is upsetting. Not all African Americans are lazy, angry, or unprofessional; and any other race can possess such traits. This is why I support the movement in fighting for their rights and equality. I also believe it is my duty as a privileged Asian American to support them.

Yet, what I do not agree with is the numerous removals, and defacing of various sculptures and monuments of those who have done wrong to Black communities in history. If such acts were conducted now against a coloured community, it is definitely uncalled for and should be prevented but those objects stemmed from the past--already built and done. What they have done in the past is wrong, especially the giving to them such high ranks. Nevertheless, it is history--something we learn so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past--so that we can strive for a more improved, better future. These objects should not have been defaced not brought down or destroyed, or in other words "cancelled". They carry an aspect of history that we should learn about not to repeat again. If we remove these objects, it is like nitpicking aspects of history we don't like, and the result is the absence of being educated of such wrongdoings in the future. If we remove all information or evidence of the horrible events of the past--we great an overly controlled--too perfect selection of history of humankind. We would perceive humankind as perfect and all too nice. This is faulty as humans by nature are not perfect. We make mistakes! This is the beauty of it. We can look back on the wrongdoings and say: "Oh, I'm glad we have learned our lesson!" We should not have to cancel these horrible events of history. We could correct it and educate by simply putting a plaque on the object that explains its history and why it is wrong and should not be repeated today. Or better, if removing it from its original place is much prefered--there could be a museum created solely on the subject of sculptures and monuments that represent dreadful areas of history for educational purposes!

Films or tv shows that have mocked, discriminated against or misrepresented various populations and identities are also subject to this cancel culture. I do not like nor agree with their representations in some cases. For comedy sketches, for example, their simple format already warns of the coming jokes on certain groups. For films, such as Gone With the Wind, or the Tahitian paintings of Paul Gaugin. Their representations of the minority were considered acceptable or the norm at the time though not anymore today.

This sheds light on the improvement we have made today. However, the previously mentioned belong to and were created in the past. We should not censor them. We need only place a warning before its full showing to the public. I find that many people are too quick to judge these days. Many are more sensitive. While sensitivity is a good thing--we are more aware of our own and others actions and reactions--it seems like we are growing too sensitive over more subjects than needed.

We should not cancel a person, event or group because of their wrongdoing--we tell them in a civilised manner, and give them a nudge that they should not have done whatever they did--that they would do better in today's society if they changed or acted a little better.

If we cancel them--we shame them and don't give them a chance to redeem themselves--we tarnish their name. Yet, keep in mind, what is a free world if we don't let people express their views? If it's wrong, we still have better and more civilised ways to educate them on better ways of thinking and responses!

It's about time we acknowledge history, and learn from it. We simply need to remain strong and focus on what we have now in the present and working from it without ruining the past!