How Cancel Culture Cancels Itself
Cancel Culture has become the bête noire of our social culture. This is not to say it is completely unconstructive, only that its overuse depreciates its effectiveness and is actually counter-productive. The recent canceling of Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, is a case in point.
This is what Mr. Wenner said in an interview with New York Times reporter David Marchese, explaining his choice of subjects for his book, The Masters: “Insofar as the women, just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level.” Mentioning Joni Mitchell, he stated, “She didn’t, in my mind, meet that test,” Wenner said. “Not by her work, not by other interviews she did. The people I interviewed were the kind of philosophers of rock.”
Regarding artists of color, he said: “Of black artists — you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as ‘masters,’ the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye, or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level.”
As a result, Wenner was removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation followed by the Montclair Literary Festival in New Jersey canceling his book promotion appearance. Of course, the social media firestorm then ignited.
In his own words, Mr. Wenner is focused on “philosophers,” not artistic or musical geniuses. He is entitled to his opinion in explaining the reasoning behind his book, and one can certainly find many reasons and cases to disagree with that opinion but cancel culture deliberately shuts the discussion down so offending ideas are not refuted in a convincing manner, just erased. But they are never really erased because they dwell in the minds of those who might share the same opinion, so there is no counter-argument. Instead of convincing the rest of us to question an opinion with contrary evidence, cancel behavior imposes sanctions as a warning not to articulate unacceptable opinions. This can only stifle intellectual discussion, making the public forum much less welcoming and productive for developing and exchanging new ideas. Those ideas will remain underground. Frankly, I’m not sure Wenner’s preferences are more elevated than the sophomoric challenge of who is hotter: Ginger or Maryann? It’s kind of a Seinfeld episode, isn’t it?
It's quite ironic because the ‘60s counter-culture preached non-conformity, and now the grandchild of counter-culture seeks to enforce complete conformity of thought and action. I’m not sure we can call this progress and nobody is really fooled. I suspect the societal response will eventually be to cancel cancel culture by casting it into the dustbin of regrettable history, much like the Salem Witch Trials.