Nick Cave has shared his thoughts on ‘cancel culture’ in a new edition of his Red hand files newsletter.
Cave was asked about his views on the subject by a fan, and linked his answer to another question about the idea of mercy, calling ‘cancel culture’ ‘antithesis of mercy’.
“Compassion is a value that must be at the heart of any functioning and tolerant society,” Cave’s response began. “Mercy ultimately recognizes that we are all imperfect and can breathe oxygen – feeling protected within a society, through our reciprocal consequences. Without mercy, a society loses its soul, and consumes it. “
He then discussed ‘culture cancellation’, adding: ‘As far as I can see,’ culture cancellation ‘is Mercy’s antithesis. Political correctness has grown into the most unfortunate religion in the world.
‘The once honest attempt to imitate our society in a more equitable way now depicts all the worst aspects that religion has to offer (and none of the beauty) – moral certainty and self-righteousness deny even the capacity for salvation. It has literally become, bad religion runs amok. ”
Cave added: “Refusing to ” cancel culture ‘to deal with uncomfortable ideas has a devastating effect on the creative soul of a society. Compassion is the primary experience – the heart event – from which the genius and generosity of the imagination comes to the fore.
‘Creativity is an act of love that can strike at our most fundamental beliefs, and thereby throw up fresh ways of seeing the world. This is both the function and brilliance of art and ideas. A force that finds its meaning in canceling these difficult ideas hinders the creative mind of a society and strikes at the complex and diverse nature of its culture. “
At the end of the message, he said: “But this is where we are. We are a culture in transition, and it may be that we are moving towards a more egalitarian society – I do not know – but what essential values will we forget in the process? ”
Last month, Nick Cave hosted a special solo livestreamed show from Alexandra Palace in London. Giving ‘Idiot Prayer’ a five star review, NME wrote: ‘Without crowds, conversations and the clutter of thousands of human bodies staring at each other, it is possible to concentrate purely on Cave’s destructive lyricism: religion, death and romance which all get their chance to shine in the golden and purple lights that illuminate the room softly. ”
Cave also surprised fans last week with the launch of a new online store called ‘Cave Things’, featuring a host of items all designed by the singer himself.
