With regard to acceptability a deep divide exists between opposers and proponents of cancel culture. Zooming into the argument of opposers, who argue that cancel culture curtails free speech, the...Show moreWith regard to acceptability a deep divide exists between opposers and proponents of cancel culture. Zooming into the argument of opposers, who argue that cancel culture curtails free speech, the present experiment investigates if cancel culture affects an individual’s encouragement of others to actively participate in discussion and their sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. In a survey experiment, participants were randomly assigned in either one of two vignettes which manipulated the presence of cancel culture discourse. Data was collected over a 2 week period (N = 90). Results showed that exposure to cancel culture discourse does not cause individuals to discourage participation in public discussions. Cancel culture, however, does decrease an individual’s sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. These findings highlight the need to investigate the impact of cancel culture on individuals' sense of safety to express unpopular opinions further in order to foster both online and offline environments that encourages open dialogue and the exploration of diverse perspectives.Show less
Sexually explicit shunga of the Edo period have long been subjected to censorship and suppressive official attitudes. In the Meiji era, due to crypto-colonial pressures, censorship grew more...Show moreSexually explicit shunga of the Edo period have long been subjected to censorship and suppressive official attitudes. In the Meiji era, due to crypto-colonial pressures, censorship grew more stringent and persists until today. Even academic shunga publications long remained censored and their study has been marginalized within ukiyo-e research, both in Japan and abroad. With the liberalization of shunga publication in Japan, scholarship began closing the gaps in the field, shifting from aestheticizing to more critical approaches. However, despite the interconnectedness of shunga with ukiyo-e imagery, museum institutions have lagged behind in their inclusion. Thus, marginalizing and self-censoring institutional attitudes still persist, despite changing social ones, constructing a disjuncture between scholarly and institutional discourses on shunga. This thesis presents the 2013 British Museum exhibition and its 2015-2016 reshowing in Japan, which resulted from the international collaborative efforts of researchers and practitioners, as a model for overcoming institutional self-censorship and marginalization of shunga. Thus showing a way forward towards the inclusion of the sexually explicit genre.Show less
The Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be...Show moreThe Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be able to publish erotic manga, manga artists use a plethora of self-censorship techniques, trying to circumvent the law. In this thesis I try to investigate what exactly is deemed obscene under the Japanese law. By examining the works of Japanese erotic gay manga artist Tagame Gengoroh I try to establish whether certain techniques are more favorable than others according to different publication media. It turns out that Japanese judges tend to alter the definition of obscene to the opinions of society; the definition seems to change through time.Show less
