Cate Blanchett calls out cancel culture: It’s important to have a ‘healthy critique’

Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett, who is respected around the world for her extraordinary oeuvre of work - be it in cinema, theatre or independent projects, has called out the cancel culture.   

Voicing her opinion on the cancel culture, which currently seems to have the art world in the grip, the actress says it allows history to repeat itself. Nominated for Oscar 2023, for her performance as a conductor who is accused of sexual abuse in the Todd Field-directed psychological drama film Tár, Cate shared her thoughts while speaking with the Radio Times recently.

Regardless of the artist’s personal foibles, it’s important to have a “healthy critique” of historical works of art. “If you don’t read older books that are slightly offensive because of what they say in a historical context, you will never grapple with the minds of the time [and] we are destined to repeat that stuff,” she said.

Citing an example of legendary artist Pablo Picasso, the actress said, “Look at Picasso. You can only imagine what went on in, outside and around his studio. But do you look at Guernica and say that is one of the greatest works of art ever? Yes, it’s a fact. It’s important to have a healthy critique.”

Tár - which also features Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant, Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover, Allan Corduner and Mark Strong - takes on both cancel culture and #MeToo movement in its plot. According to Cate, it did so to tackle “existential” issues. The film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022. The actress was honoured with the Volpi Cup at the festival. Among her other recent works, Cate has lent her voice in the 2022 fantasy film The School for Good and Evil, while she also appeared in two episodes of Documentary Now!.