Affiliation:
1. National University of Singapore, Singapore
Abstract
This essay provides an overview of China’s online fandom spanning three decades, primarily focusing on the practices embraced by fans. The fan communities in China have undergone several generational shifts, progressing from the era of 1.0 websites dedicated to Hong Kong and Taiwan idols to the contemporary landscape involving data manipulation and traffic management. The narrative commences with a historical account of significant fandom events over the past 30 years, emphasizing the evolving digital, localized, industrialized, and financialized nature of fan culture. The essay advocates for two key actions: initiating discussions among the various analytical perspectives to reconcile conflicting assessments of fan practices and encouraging a critical reflection on how China’s online fandom contributes to a broader understanding of the global landscape.