Crisis narrative and the paradox of erasure: Making room for dialectic tension in a cancel culture

Abstract

This study analyzed a crisis situation that a university faced when an historical artwork considered to be racially progressive when it was created nearly 70 years ago has been deemed racist in contemporary times. The university attempted to address criticisms by providing context to the artwork, explaining its creation and history as well as by creating companion artwork to lessen its offensiveness, but none of those attempts assuaged critics. We view the case through the lenses of narrative theory, dialectical tensions, and the paradox of erasure while recognizing the challenges organizations face navigating the limited space for competing narratives in a “cancel culture.” We add to and codify a typology of erasure in public relations and offer recommendations for universities dealing with crises that have competing interpretations of highly charged, socio-political issues, such as those stemming from racial injustice, at their center.