Fan activism sustained and challenged

Participatory culture in Chinese online translation communities

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7528023
AutoresWeiyu Zhang (0000-0003-2924-6517, National University of Singapore, autor correspondente), Chengting Mao (National University of Singapore)
Ano2013
Volume6
Fascículo1
Páginas45-61
Data de publicação2013-02-27
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoChinese Journal of Communication (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1754-4769 • E-ISSN: 1754-4750
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17544750.2013.753499
OpenAlexW2063157561
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas36
Referências citadas28

Henry Jenkins, in Convergence Culture, argues that “[p]opular culture may be preparing the way for a more meaningful public culture”. This article examines this argument in the context of online translation communities in China, which originated from fan groups interested in foreign comics, games, movies, and television dramas. Drawing on evidence collected through participant observation and 23 in-depth interviews, this article first reviews the historical development and the structural layout of such online translation communities. It then focuses on the motivations of their members to contribute to the translation tasks, which show that personal interests speak louder than collective goals. Finally, it analyzes how the collaboration structure, mindset of collaboration, skills, and sense of agency are transferred from translating entertainment content to civic education content (i.e. open courses). Participatory culture fostered through fan activities is found to be transferred into civic engagement; however, the transfer between fan activism and political participation is yet to be seen

Agency (philosophy · Argument (complex analysis · Citizen journalism · Context (archaeology · Entertainment · Media studies · Mindset · Participatory culture · Political science · Politics · Popular culture · Public relations · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Asian Culture and Media Studies · Digital Games and Media · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Law