“Are we friends or opponents?” Chinese idol fans’ relationship changes from online to off-line
Year: 2023
Type: article
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.
Authors: Qing Xiao, Yuhang Zheng
Institutions: University of Oxford, University of Amsterdam
Language: English
Subfield: Cultural Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4389727522