Let's Wan study : anti-fandom engagement, identity construction and affinity space in China
(2023) MKVM13 20231Media and Communication Studies
Department of Communication and Media
- Abstract
- In the long history of fan culture and audience studies, fans as media consumers have been the focus of research. However, as the other side of the coin, the anti-fan, has been relatively marginalised in the academic field. The public perception of "anti-fans" is still critical, and they are often labelled as "pathological, irrational, excessively emotional. This study aims to analyse the phenomenon of "anti-fans" in depth, with a view to encouraging the public to hold a more neutral view of this group. This study intends to explore how the Wan scholars, the anti-fandom of the Chinese micro-celebrity Wanwan, engage with texts surrounding Wanwan, and how they construct personal and collective constructed identities through anti-fandom... (More)
- In the long history of fan culture and audience studies, fans as media consumers have been the focus of research. However, as the other side of the coin, the anti-fan, has been relatively marginalised in the academic field. The public perception of "anti-fans" is still critical, and they are often labelled as "pathological, irrational, excessively emotional. This study aims to analyse the phenomenon of "anti-fans" in depth, with a view to encouraging the public to hold a more neutral view of this group. This study intends to explore how the Wan scholars, the anti-fandom of the Chinese micro-celebrity Wanwan, engage with texts surrounding Wanwan, and how they construct personal and collective constructed identities through anti-fandom practices and the presenting characteristics of the anti-fan communities they gather. Starting from media engagement, identity construction and affinity space, an attempt is made to provide a unique window into anti-fan studies.
This study employed multiple digital ethnographic methods, including the unobtrusive method and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Through research, this study reveals the vivid and tense complex relationship between Wan scholars and Wanwan. The study argues that Wan scholars' critiques of Wanwan are not baseless slurs. Instead, they represent a cognitive engagement mode in moral ethics, authenticity, and aesthetic values. At the same time, Wan scholars demonstrate a richer, more subtle and multi-layered mode of affective engagement with Wanwan. Wan scholars succeeded in constructing their own individual and collective identities by contrasting and resisting Wanwan and the group's anti-fandom practices. This identity is not only based on critique and opposition but also involves deep self-reflection and collective solidarity. Thirdly, this study argues that the Wan Study Group can be seen as a variant of an affinity space, bringing new perspectives to the study of anti-fandom communities. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9134512
- author
- Zeng, Hui LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MKVM13 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- L2 - 2nd term paper (old degree order)
- subject
- keywords
- Anti-Fandom, Media Engagement, Identity Construction and Affinity Space
- language
- English
- id
- 9134512
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-04 08:48:46
- date last changed
- 2023-09-04 08:48:46
@misc{9134512,
abstract = {{In the long history of fan culture and audience studies, fans as media consumers have been the focus of research. However, as the other side of the coin, the anti-fan, has been relatively marginalised in the academic field. The public perception of "anti-fans" is still critical, and they are often labelled as "pathological, irrational, excessively emotional. This study aims to analyse the phenomenon of "anti-fans" in depth, with a view to encouraging the public to hold a more neutral view of this group. This study intends to explore how the Wan scholars, the anti-fandom of the Chinese micro-celebrity Wanwan, engage with texts surrounding Wanwan, and how they construct personal and collective constructed identities through anti-fandom practices and the presenting characteristics of the anti-fan communities they gather. Starting from media engagement, identity construction and affinity space, an attempt is made to provide a unique window into anti-fan studies.
This study employed multiple digital ethnographic methods, including the unobtrusive method and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Through research, this study reveals the vivid and tense complex relationship between Wan scholars and Wanwan. The study argues that Wan scholars' critiques of Wanwan are not baseless slurs. Instead, they represent a cognitive engagement mode in moral ethics, authenticity, and aesthetic values. At the same time, Wan scholars demonstrate a richer, more subtle and multi-layered mode of affective engagement with Wanwan. Wan scholars succeeded in constructing their own individual and collective identities by contrasting and resisting Wanwan and the group's anti-fandom practices. This identity is not only based on critique and opposition but also involves deep self-reflection and collective solidarity. Thirdly, this study argues that the Wan Study Group can be seen as a variant of an affinity space, bringing new perspectives to the study of anti-fandom communities.}},
author = {{Zeng, Hui}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Let's Wan study : anti-fandom engagement, identity construction and affinity space in China}},
year = {{2023}},
}