

Cancel Culture and the Eroding of America’s Institutions
Jan 5, 2025
Adrian Daub, a Stanford professor and author of The Cancel Culture Panic, delves into the complexities of cancel culture and moral panic. He traces its origins from celebrity disinvestment to its political implications. Daub discusses how online spaces shaped this phenomenon and questions the evolving definitions of accountability. He highlights the role of elite universities and social media in amplifying these moral panics while addressing the paradoxes between free speech and existing power hierarchies. This insightful conversation is a deep dive into our modern societal fears.
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Moral Panic Definition
- A moral panic starts with real events but extrapolates to apocalyptic predictions.
- It detaches from actual frequency, suggesting the issue is more common and problematic than it is.
Cancel Culture Definition
- "Cancel culture" is social ostracism arising semi-spontaneously via social networks.
- It targets everyday people with the ferocity of disappointed fans reacting to a celebrity.
Cancel Culture Origins
- Cancel culture originated in online fan communities as disinvestment from celebrities.
- It shifted from celebrity disinvestment to targeting everyday individuals.