Exercise 1
Look at the word cloud. What phenomenon do
each of these words and phrases relate to?
cancel culture
call-out culture
fear of the mob accountability
meanness
judge
social media criticism
boycott
public shaming censorship
ostracism
woke
reputation damage punching bag
How do you think each of this word is
related to cancel culture?
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences below with the words from the box.
How far do you agree with these opinions?
align with, wake-up call, relentless bullying, expressing,
promote, the target of, room for, missteps, backlash
1. Cancel culture has also highlighted the problem of online meanness. I
remember when a social media in uencer faced relentless bullying
after expressing an unpopular opinion, making me realise how crucial
it is to promote kindness and understanding online.
2. Cancel culture is quick to label and judge. Like, when someone makes
a genuine mistake, they instantly become the target of harsh
criticism without any room for understanding or forgiveness.
3. I believe in accountability, and cancel culture has made me more aware
of the consequences of my actions and words. It's a wake-up call to
be more considerate and empathetic towards others
4. It’s like there's this fear of being attacked by a mob of people if I say
something that doesn't align with the popular opinions.
5. Many public gures have faced a backlash for not being "woke
enough" or for past actions that are now considered socially
unacceptable and I think it should be this way.
6. Cancel culture can get brutal, and I've seen people become punching
bags for the internet's anger. It's disheartening to witness the criticism
and public shaming that can follow even minor missteps.
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Exercise 3
Watch the video [https://drive.google.com/ le/d/
1xKEIzL4Y1fUMujLAfgmXTo8qXS_sizA4/view?usp=share_link]
and say if each speaker is for or against cancel culture.
Speaker 1 Speaker 2 Speaker 3
Speaker 4 Speaker 5 Speaker 6
Speaker 7 Speaker 8 Speaker 9
Exercise 4
Watch the video again and say who mentions
the following phrases and in what contexts:
lose your voice, wedge issues, erase, warranted, stand up for
something, rational arguments, double-edged sword, dangerous
ideologies, to be persecuted, hold people accountable
1. to be persecuted (speaker 2) - The United States embodies the ability to
be able to have your own opinions regardless of what they are and not to
be persecuted for it.
2. wedge issues (speaker 3) - I think again, just like using wedge issues to
divide us, I think the cancel culture also is serving to divide us further.
3. rational arguments (speaker 4) - It creates an echo chamber and it actually
hinders our ability to make rational arguments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KljVRqj9jks
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4. erase (speaker 5) - People make mistakes. There's no need to erase
everything they've done.
5. stand up for something (speaker 6) - It puts you in a place where you do
want to stand up for something that's right, and you can't because you're
afraid that you're gonna get canceled.
6. lose your voice (speaker 6) - And then you lose your voice.
7. double-edged sword (speaker 7) - I feel like it's a double-edged sword.
8. dangerous ideologies (speaker 7) - It's one of those things to where it's like,
in certain situations, I can most de nitely understand where you don't want
certain dangerous ideologies being spread.
9. hold people accountable (speaker 8) - I think it's important to hold people
accountable for what they say, especially if it's dangerous to society or a
speci c group of people.
10. warranted (speaker 9) - I think cancel culture in a lot of cases is warranted.
Exercise 5
Complete the short report on the poll from the
video with the phrases from Exercise 4.
The poll shows the contrasting opinions on cancel culture, illustrating its role as a
double-edged sword in contemporary society. While some participants expressed
concern about cancel culture's potential to erase voices and create an echo
chamber, they acknowledged the need to hold people accountable for their
actions. They argued that it is crucial to stand up for something justly and engage
in rational arguments without resorting to cancel culture, as it may lead to
individuals feeling persecuted before proven guilty.
On the other hand, some respondents believed that cancel culture is warranted
when dealing with dangerous ideologies, such as hate speech, in an e ort to
foster a more inclusive environment. They saw cancel culture as a means to hold
individuals accountable for perpetuating harmful beliefs and viewed it as a tool to
address social issues e ectively. The poll emphasises the importance of
understanding di erent viewpoints and engaging in open communication to
overcome the challenges presented by cancel culture without losing one's voice
in the process.
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Exercise 6
Discuss the questions in pairs.
1. Are you for or against cancel culture?
2. Do you think people should be canceled for things they
did in the past?
3. Do you agree that cancel culture makes people afraid to
stand up for what they believe in?
4. Does cancel culture do our society better or worse? Why?
Exercise 7
Look at the following cancel culture cases. Do you think it was
right to cancel these people in these situations? Why? Discuss
in pairs and use as many phrases from Exercise 4 as possible.
Ellen DeGeneres
This comic was once an icon of pop culture,
paving the way for LGBT representation in
television and subsequently launching a
beloved talk show. Her accomplishments
cannot be forgotten, but DeGeneres herself was
called out in 2020. It was alleged that the
production of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was
full of problems, including racism and
harassment.
Other reports also came to the surface, notably
accusing DeGeneres of being less than kind.
She failed to renew her contract when it expired
in 2022, e ectively bringing her long-running
talk show to a close.
J. K. Rowling
The author has come under re in recent
years, as she has made a series of
problematic claims regarding sex and
gender. Her remarks have widely been
dubbed harmful and transphobic, and
she has received backlash from the
media, activists, and “Harry Potter” fans
alike.
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Kevin Spacey
The man, who was once a respected actor
and two-time Oscar winner, is now a
disgraced ex-celebrity accused of sexual
misconduct and abuse. Spacey was accused
by over a dozen people throughout the mid-
to-late 2010s, which e ectively ended his
acting career.
He is still facing legal repercussions
stemming from the claims, and is due to face
trial in the UK in the summer of 2023. In the
midst of these court battles, however, he is
attempting a semblance of a return to the
spotlight. He has notably been cast in a
movie called “Peter Five Eight,” and his voice
will appear in the 2023 thriller “Control.”
https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-10-
cancelled-celebrities-where-are-they-now
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