Cancel culture in the context of traditional and contemporary sociological concepts: the case of Harvey Weinstein

This article presents a sociological analysis of the phenomenon of cancel culture through the lens of both traditional and contemporary theoretical approaches. The case of Harvey Weinstein is examined as one of the most representative examples of public reputational sanctioning in the digital age. The theoretical framework includes É. Durkheim’s theory of social sanctions, E. Goffman’s concept of stigmatization, T. Parsons’ theory of social action, as well as contemporary approaches such as M. Castells’ theory of network society, J. Habermas’ concept of the public sphere, and social movement theory. The analysis interprets cancel culture as a complex sociocultural mechanism that combines functions of moral control, stigmatization, and digital mobilization. The study concludes that forms of public reaction and normative regulation are undergoing transformation in the context of networked society.