“Are we friends or opponents?” Chinese idol fans’ relationship changes from online to off-line

Authors

  • Qing Xiao University of Oxford
  • Yuhang Zheng University of Amsterdam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2023.2509

Keywords:

Chinese fandom, Space, Tongdan

Abstract

This study focuses on how the relationships between Chinese idol fans change in the hybrid space of online and off-line, challenging assumptions about the harmony of fan relationships and highlighting the high fluidity of these relationships. Based on imaginary relationships with other fans, such as competition or cooperation, Chinese fans intentionally control their online and off-line fan identities, which are closely related to their fan activities in different spaces, that is, fans of the same idol cooperate online to enhance the idol's status in the entertainment industry, while off-line these fans need to compete for their idol's attention.

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Published

2023-12-14

Issue

Vol. 41 (2023): Chinese Fandoms

Section

Symposium

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Qing Xiao, Yuhang Zheng

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