The Internet and New Social Formation in China: Fandom Publics in the Making

摘要

We hear a lot about Chinese "netizens" in the media. Whether it is journalists marvelling at the huge size of the internet population, reporting the latest online vox pop, or discussing whether we should actually be using the term "netizen," Chinese internet users are a frequently referenced demographic. For all the popular interest in them, there is little systematic research on how Chinese netizens behave, what their attitudes are, how they come together and what the implications are for Chinese society, both online and IRL ("in real life"). Focusing on netizens and their online communities, this book is a welcome addition to Chinese internet studies. Furthermore, in focusing largely on "fans," it contributes a promising angle to the growing field of Chinese celebrity studies.