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Watching National Treasure, creating danmei tongren: stories of power and the power of stories

Zhou, Oscar Tianyang, Zhang, Ming (2022) Watching National Treasure, creating danmei tongren: stories of power and the power of stories. Feminist Media Studies, 23 (7). pp. 3515-3532. ISSN 1468-0777. (doi:10.1080/14680777.2022.2126871) (KAR id:97596)

Abstract

Discussing danmei tongren (the Chinese term for slash fan creations) fandom of the mainland Chinese variety television programme National Treasure, this article examines how the meanings of Chinese television are perceived, contested, extended, and transformed by female fan audiences. By undertaking close reading of both danmei tongren fiction and music videos, we investigate how Chinese female fans creatively rework, extend, transgress, and subvert their favourite popular media texts to speak to their shared interests and fantasies, working-in stories of romance, sex, and intimacy between men and removing sexist, heteronormative, and nationalist discourses. Our examination shows that National Treasure danmei tongren fandom concerns both stories of power relationships across genders, sexualities, classes, ages, and these stories’ power over women. It offers a communal space for amateur and alternative female cultural production in which marginalised voices can speak back to mainstream media culture in China.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/14680777.2022.2126871
Uncontrolled keywords: danmei tongren; popular culture; gender and sexuality; slash fandom; Chinese television
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications > HE8689 Broadcasting. Radio and Television.
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ1236 Women and the state. Women's rights. Women's political activity
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ21 Sexual behavior and attitudes
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Arts
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Oscar Zhou
Date Deposited: 25 Oct 2022 23:42 UTC
Last Modified: 15 Aug 2024 13:37 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/97596 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Zhou, Oscar Tianyang.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9170-9351
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