Reconsidering the “Exceptionally” Talented Middle-Aged Man: Fan Responses, Cancel Culture, and Authenticity in Mark Kozelek’s Late-Career Resurgence

This research examines fan responses to allegations of sexual misconduct against prolific indie songwriter Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon) on an indie-focused subreddit between 2014 and 2022. Using ethnographic discourse analysis, we have been able to explore the discursive process that produces cancellation, reconsideration, and the shifting understanding of an artist’s authenticity. This paper examines the idea of authenticity as a process through the analysis of fan responses to Kozelek’s late career trajectory, exemplifying that a performer’s status among audiences is never stable, particularly once they are accused of gendered violence.