Bringing #LinaBell to life online
A case study in the creative and collaborative dynamics of Chinese online fandom
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6441988 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ariel Saiyinjiya (0009-0007-7587-668X, Columbia University), Yuejie Gu (Columbia University), Yuruo Lei (Columbia University), Xingyuan Meng (0000-0001-6040-2536, Columbia University), I Literat (0000-0001-8192-769X, Columbia University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 660-679 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Media Culture & Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0163-4437 • E-ISSN: 1460-3675 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/01634437241301615 |
| OpenAlex | W4404997036 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 24 |
This article delves into the dynamics of online fandom in China through the lens of LinaBell, a pink fox character introduced as a mascot by Shanghai Disneyland in September 2021. Unlike traditional Disney characters, LinaBell lacks an official backstory or media presence. Yet she has rapidly gained immense popularity among Chinese Disney fans, largely through social media platforms like Weibo. Our study centers on the LinaBell Super Topic Community on Weibo, consisting of over 543,000 members known as “LinaBell’s moms.” Employing qualitative content analysis of posts and comments, this research examines fans’ creative work, including videos, fanfiction, and memes around LinaBell, in order to understand the collective dynamics of Chinese online fandom. Our findings revealed two main themes: the collective personification of LinaBell through fan work, and the formation of a parakin bond with the character. The findings highlight the transformative role of social media in contemporary Chinese fandom as well as unveil a diverse landscape of participation, creativity, and community in Chinese culture through the prism of platforms like Weibo
Advertising · Anime · Art · Comics · Creativity · Dynamics (music · Fandom · Literature · Media studies · Online community · Popular culture · Popularity · Social media · Sociology · World Wide Web · Asian Culture and Media Studies · Computer Science · Digital Games and Media · Media, Gender, and Advertising · Psychology · Social Psychology
The qualitative content analysis process
"Play with me!" Zhan jie as productive fans in the Chinese idol industry
Social Support and Connective Affordances
“My baby should feel no wronged!”
Convergence Culture
Copyright and Fan Productivity in China
Revisiting parasocial theory in fan studies
Para-kin relationship between fans and idols
K-pop fan labor and an alternative creative industry
Network fields, cultural identities and labor rights communities
Why most Chinese fans of American superhero movies are girls
Gendered fandom in transcultural context- female-dominated paratexts and compromised fan culture
Playing platformized language games
From Homeland-Mother to Azhong-Brother
Fandom and coercive empowerment
From parasocial to parakin
East Asian pop music idol production and the emergence of data fandom in China
Intercoder Reliability in Qualitative Research
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |