Backlash: Cancel culture as a double-edged sword

• Main Authors: Mangaser, Maria Joannah Therese C, Buenafe, Ma. Kristine Grace E, De Castro, Beatrice Ysabel Y
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Journalism; Cancel culture; Film and Media Studies; Journalism Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_comm/35; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=etdb_comm
• Institution: De La Salle University

Backlash: Cancel culture as a Double-edged Sword is a multimedia journalism project that features a three-part narrative that discusses the positive and negative effects of Cancel culture. The articles are based on a series of interviews with individuals who have had their own experiences with Cancel culture. The first story explores the #HijaAko movement on Twitter, and how it gave women a safe space to voice out their intentions to condemn behaviors such as sexism and victim-blaming. The second story tells the narrative of two student leaders who held a university lecturer accountable for a misogynistic post that circulated online. The third story discusses the repercussions of attacking and alienating people, eliminating any chance of growth. The interactive website aims to bring awareness and contextualize the way Cancel culture is manifested in the Philippines. It also aims to show that although Cancel culture could fuel activism and spark social change, it may also cause harmful consequences. Grounded on Jurgen Habermas’ notion of the public sphere (Stevenson, 1995), we use Backlash as a medium for individuals to share their stories to a broader audience and to critique social media as a venue for public discussions. Social media has become a way for said discussions about social issues and other taboo concepts through Cancel culture. This project used a comprehensive-continuous style of multimedia journalism based on Hernandez and Rue’s (2016) principles of multimedia journalism. It is recommended that the website should be consumed in a linear manner, with its long narrative accompanied by a timeline, photos, and videos; all these elements help the audience feel immersed throughout the experience. The website is available at http://www.projectbacklash.info/