What is an articles club?

An articles club is like a book club without the big commitment. No pressure! Each month we read a few longer articles on topic, and then get together to talk about what we’ve read. We will connect and share our thoughts about articles from magazines and newspapers that are available in the library, and online using your library card.

January’s topic is cancel culture. The term “cancel culture” originated from the lyrics of an obscure 80s disco/funk song called, “Your Love is Cancelled” by the band Chic. In it, the lead singer uses the word “cancel” as a metaphor for a romantic break-up. Forty years—and a few social media platforms—later, we see cancel culture on a daily basis. But not everyone agrees that cancel culture should exist. Or that it even does.

Join Erin for a conversation about cancel culture. Here are some things we'll cover in our discussion:

• What does cancel culture really mean?
• Is cancelling someone ever justified?
• Can someone ever recover from being cancelled?
• Why does this librarian keep spelling cancelled with 2 Ls?

You are invited to read some or all of these articles before our discussion. Some are available online - just click the link - but all articles will be emailed to you when you register. You’re always welcome to do extra research on a topic!

• Cancel Culture is Not a Movement, by Benjamin Wallace-Wells. The New Yorker, March 11, 2021
• The Long and Tortured History of Cancel Culture, by Ligaya Mishan. The New York Times Style Magazine. December 3, 2020
• The New Puritans, by Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, October 1, 2021
• What Propels Cancel Culture?, by Rob Henderson. Psychology Today, March/April 2020