Freedom of Speech vs Cancel Culture : A Balanced Perspective

Do you think an artist’s freedom of speech should be protected at all cost?

Do you feel there are more severe topics to address in society than cancelling an artist over a petty controversy?

If yes, this blog is going to challenge your belief. Get ready!

As a society, we strongly believe in the freedom of speech and are generally intolerant when artists are being canceled or filed for offensive language.

And yet, I feel there is more to this topic than what meets the naked eye.

In my opinion — yes, there should be some level of monitoring over the content released in public, and artists should be held accountable for their content and public demeanor.

#1 — Naïve comparison

Letting comedians talk unfiltered and then dismissing criticism by arguing there are “bigger issues” in society may sound like a sensible argument at first. However, if you think wisely for a moment, you’ll realize how flawed and childish this argument is.

It is like asking, why are my parents opposed to me watching porn in the living room when there is a broken window in the bedroom that needs to be fixed?

Issues in society are generally unique in nature and have seldom got anything in common to do with the resources, complexity, and expertise required to resolve them

#2 — Reach of Influence

Speaking of influence, we cannot ignore the fact that artists, especially popular ones, have a wider impact on society. What they say or do is often imitated, consciously or unconsciously — by the masses, including children. 

Like Einstein once said every action has an equal and opposite reaction, any controversial statement made by influential figures will inevitably come under scrutiny.

Fun fact — Einstein never actually said that — Newton did! In his third law of motion. You almost believed me there for a second, didn’t you? 

And that proves my point even further… whatever is said and done by people with outreach is generally believed as truth by masses, regardless of the intent with which it is said.

As a society, if we continue accepting usage of vulgar language and condescending jokes, then they will only become more pervasive. It is like a slippery slope — if you don’t apply brakes on time, you won’t realize how deep in the mud it will take you.

What you allow will continue.

#3 — Hypocrisy

People laugh at condescending jokes and abusive language only until they become the target. The moment the joke is on them, you’d be surprised to see how quickly people flip.

The very people who were advocating freedom of speech would turn sides and protest harder.

Remember Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars?

Hypocrisy is more prevalent than we think. Freedom of speech cannot be conditional and as per your convenience — only when it suits you.

#4 — Foreign support

When an artist faces backlash for controversial language, foreign artists often criticize the country for being “too intolerant” towards jokes. 

I find this naïve. It is like adding a spicy Indian chilly to an American dish and then mocking Americans for not being able to tolerate the heat. 

It doesn’t work that way.

Be it food or language, level of tolerance differs from region to region and is shaped by culture, history and other regional factors. I feel it’s unreasonable to generalize and impose a blanket standard for everyone.

Having said that, I am also of the opinion that corrective actions against artists should be proportional to their offense. Canceling an artist and out casting them is a bit too extreme.

Society needs more art and creativity than we think.

All said, I believe every person deserves their freedom of speech — but that freedom ends where it starts to encroach upon a society’s state of sanity and well-being.

Amidst all this debate, I feel we are forgetting the real power that artists and influencers hold. Getting to have influence on people with your words and actions is a blessing that not everyone gets. 

Instead of using this power recklessly, it should rather be used constructively to entertain and enrich society, to shape minds and inspire thoughts in meaningful ways.

And if that’s not the true purpose of art, then I don’t know what is!

Let me know which side of the debate you are on in the comments down below!