When I think about cancel culture, Kanye West, an American rapper now more commonly known as “Ye” instantly springs to mind. It is fair to say Ye has had many controversial movements throughout his career; whether it be his interruption of Taylor Swift’s prize-giving, his unconsented use of her image in a music video, or his 2022 antisemitic remarks which resulted in a temporary ban from X, and termination of multiple brand deals.
Despite being such a contentious figure, his music is still frequently played in clubs, loved during gym sessions, car rides and house parties. Clearly, despite his notoriety, it can feel difficult to withdraw from enjoying or streaming his songs as they inevitably get stuck in your head. Are people passionate enough to leave their nail salon mid-appointment and find a new place all because Heartless begins to boom through the sound system?
It seems then, such a question must be considered: can we truly separate the art from the artist? It is an age-old conundrum of convenience versus commitment. A dilemma of morals and of drawing lines.
Please don’t cancel me. But, I would be lying if I claimed that I have never listened to the music of artists subject to controversy, from time to time. Yet, I am also guilty of judging others for their questionable associations. Yes, it’s hypocritical, but it’s undoubtedly human.
This is why I refer to this question of separating the art from the artist as a conundrum of convenience. Because, like it or not, unconsciously, the morals of our decisions have a tendency to loosen when matters are beneficial to oneself.
So, what is cancel culture, and what does it take to be cancelled?
Cancel culture was popularized in the early 2010s, and has emerged significantly in light of movements such as “Me Too” and “Black Lives Matter”. Cancel culture calls for public outrage and boycotting. It urges celebrities who have perpetrated so-called wrongful acts to be shunned, shamed and silenced. Cancel-culture suffocates the potential for separation: the art and the artist become glued to one another, their words and ideologies fixed in place, interlocked, one inescapable from the other. As the term “cancelled” started to pop up more and more, increasingly minor ignorances began to warrant a cancellation of anyone and everyone. Even your favourite bands and books. Simply, whether facts were uncovered about Jane Austen’s past or Katy Perry’s last night out: you better throughout your copy of Northanger Abbey and your vinyl of Teenage Dream in one sweep. Save yourself the bother.
What should one do if their most beloved artists falls victim to cancel-culture?
Don’t worry. Don’t lose hope yet. You have a few options.
- Boycott the artist altogether. Personally, I would argue such a rash action would be fitting for extremely discriminatory or illegal acts. Boycotting allows one to stand in solidarity with victims; to do so you must step away from any associations with the artist, to reduce their funding and popularity. This may seem convenient, but in serious cases, it is always the best option. Morals over music, even if it was your favourite.
- Give yourself some leeway. Some convenience. I would apply this choice to minor cancellations, where the artist’s actions cannot hurt anyone physically or mentally to a high degree. Yet, if you analyse the art, and find nods to their problematic beliefs, then probably don’t listen to them at all. But if their art is completely detached, a viable option would be second-hand encounters with their works. Picking up CD’s from charity shops or a fan’s recording of old concerts. Don’t go to a concert, or press play 20 times a day on a streaming service where they will gain royalties. Of course, piracy is not okay. But neither is funding the lifestyle of a racist or violent person either. It is all contextual, dependent on their actions, your own beliefs and the impact your engagement with their work will or will not have on furthering their platform.
I am not, by any means, a moral compass. But I would argue that if an artist has been cancelled for doing something that you would unfriend someone for, or distance yourself from a family member because of, I would break away from their work. I have been on both ends of the spectrum, but I will leave you with this: there is no universal formula, no moral handbook for separating the art from the artist, for choosing whether to comply with cancel-culture or not. Listening to one song out of convenience, in my opinion, can be overlooked, but being an ongoing defender and supporter of a truly harmful individual – regardless of their fame – is unforgivable.
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