Episode Details

In part 1 of this Cancelled Fantasy series, we explored why cancel culture often feels so wrong. But we also have a uniquely Christian way of responding to cancel mobs. Now, for part 2, we’ll look at situations where a person deserved to get cancelled. What do we do with those creators and their works of art?

Top three questions

1. How we do discern necessary “cancelling” from legalistic “cancelling”? (Part 1)
2. If the cancellation was immoral, how do we love cancelling-mob enemies? (Part 1)
3. If cancellation was moral, how do we view the cancelled or their stories?

We explored questions 1 and 2 in part 1 of this miniseries. Now we focus exclusively on question 3.

3. If cancellation was moral, how do we view those cancelled or their stories?

James Gunn: seems to have repented of wicked language

• At present, Gunn looks like a special case of someone who did change.
• We don’t know what went on behind the scenes. In public, he did repent.
• He said some good things about why he sinned with filthy jokes.

1. Many people who have followed my career know when I started, I viewed myself as a provocateur, making movies and telling jokes that were outrageous and taboo. As I have discussed publicly many times, as I’ve developed as a person, so has my work and my humor.
2. It’s not to say I’m better, but I am very, very different than I was a few years ago; today I try to root my work in love and connection and less in anger. My days saying something just because it’s shocking and trying to get a reaction are over.
3. In the past, I have apologized for humor of mine that hurt people. I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies.
4. For the record, when I made these shocking jokes, I wasn’t living them out. I know this is a weird statement to make, and seems obvious, but, still, here I am, saying it.
5. Anyway, that’s the completely honest truth: I used to make a lot of offensive jokes. I don’t anymore. I don’t blame my past self for this, but I like myself more and feel like a more full human being and creator today. Love you to you all.

—from James Gunn on Twitter

• Note especially Gunn’s seeming understanding about his motives back then.
• He doesn’t admit to sins he (seemingly) didn’t do. He does get to the heart.
• Also, for several months at least, he stayed fired from Disney/Marvel.
• It was time enough for him to start making a Suicide Squad movie for DC.
• If he had not been hired, though, I still would enjoy his Marvel movies.
• Except for much of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It isn’t that good.
• Why? As a Christian, I’m used to knowing evil people can do good things.
• This simple yet complex fact about our world escapes the cancel mobs.

Joss Whedon: seems not to have repented of wicked behavior

• But what about when someone is cancelled maybe rightly?
• See article from feminist website Jezebel.com about Whedon’s “rise and fall.”
• Whedon created Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Firefly (season 1)
• He also directed Marvel’s Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
• Lastly he reworked an atrocity called Justice League (2017), now being cancelled itsel