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BEING “NON-MAINSTREAM” IN CHINESE CYBERSPACE: FZL SUBCULTURE ON THE INTERNET

Zhou, Pianzhou (2009)
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
The rise of the FZL (feizhuliu) subculture was one of the most eye-catching cultural phenomena in the Chinese cyberspace between 2007 and 2008. It has been considered as vulgar, destructive and problematic by the masses. The purpose of this research was to offer a fresh perspective and insightful view into the FZL subculture. It also was aimed to contribute to the studies of the intersection of subcultures and the Internet, and the understanding of social inclusion in Chinese cyberspace. The central research questions were raised: “What was the relation between the Internet and the FZL subculture?” and “How was FZL “non-mainstream? How did FZL resist mainstream norms and values?” The research was mainly designed in qualitative methods with... (More)
The rise of the FZL (feizhuliu) subculture was one of the most eye-catching cultural phenomena in the Chinese cyberspace between 2007 and 2008. It has been considered as vulgar, destructive and problematic by the masses. The purpose of this research was to offer a fresh perspective and insightful view into the FZL subculture. It also was aimed to contribute to the studies of the intersection of subcultures and the Internet, and the understanding of social inclusion in Chinese cyberspace. The central research questions were raised: “What was the relation between the Internet and the FZL subculture?” and “How was FZL “non-mainstream? How did FZL resist mainstream norms and values?” The research was mainly designed in qualitative methods with inductive fashion. The primary data came from online participant observation in Yupsky.com, Tieba.baidu.com, and FZLGO.com, the websites dedicated to the FZL subculture and online personal spaces run by FZL subculturalists. The research found out that the Internet is the only social space where a FZL identity can be acquired, and to be a FZL subculturalist is to engage with the Internet and create an online FZL identity. The findings also revealed that FZL’s identities are totally different and even contradictory with the norms and values shared by the mainstream Chinese netizens. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Zhou, Pianzhou
supervisor
organization
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
non-mainstream, cyberspace, China, FZL, subculture, subculturalist, Internet, identity, netizen
language
English
id
1698221
date added to LUP
2010-10-21 15:21:01
date last changed
2010-10-21 15:21:01
@misc{1698221,
  abstract     = {{The rise of the FZL (feizhuliu) subculture was one of the most eye-catching cultural phenomena in the Chinese cyberspace between 2007 and 2008. It has been considered as vulgar, destructive and problematic by the masses. The purpose of this research was to offer a fresh perspective and insightful view into the FZL subculture. It also was aimed to contribute to the studies of the intersection of subcultures and the Internet, and the understanding of social inclusion in Chinese cyberspace. The central research questions were raised: “What was the relation between the Internet and the FZL subculture?” and “How was FZL “non-mainstream? How did FZL resist mainstream norms and values?” The research was mainly designed in qualitative methods with inductive fashion. The primary data came from online participant observation in Yupsky.com, Tieba.baidu.com, and FZLGO.com, the websites dedicated to the FZL subculture and online personal spaces run by FZL subculturalists. The research found out that the Internet is the only social space where a FZL identity can be acquired, and to be a FZL subculturalist is to engage with the Internet and create an online FZL identity. The findings also revealed that FZL’s identities are totally different and even contradictory with the norms and values shared by the mainstream Chinese netizens.}},
  author       = {{Zhou, Pianzhou}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{BEING “NON-MAINSTREAM” IN CHINESE CYBERSPACE: FZL SUBCULTURE ON THE INTERNET}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}