Transcultural Media Fandom in the Asia Pacific

Tingting Hu is Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China.Fang Wu is Associate Professor at the School of Media and Communication in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.

• List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors AcknowledgmentIntroduction: Theorizing Transcultural Media Fandom in the Asia-Pacific Tingting Hu and Fang Wu Understanding Media Fandom in Fan Studies Looking at Asia-Pacific Fandom from a Transcultural Perspective Organization of the Book References Part I Technology, Industry and Economy 1 “It’s About Showing Our Love and Support for Our Boys”: K-pop Fan- Made Cafés as Transcultural “Labors of Love” Samantha James Introduction Theoretical Background Methodology Affective Motivations for Fan Planning and Participation in K-pop Fan Cafés Discussion: Fan Labor Is Co-Opted in the Transcultural K-pop Café Economy Future Directions and Conclusion References 2 The Social Media Content Cocreation for a Transcultural Celebrity: The Case of the Chinese K-pop Idol Jackson Wang Meicheng Sun Introduction Literature Review Methods Findings Conclusion References Swept from the Competition: Collective Memory in a Transcultural Fandom’s Discursive Responses to the G2–Blacklist Esports Partnership Manuel R. Enverga III Introduction Underpinnings in Academic Literature Methodological Approach Findings Discussion Conclusion and Recommendations for Further Research References 4 Hong Kong’s Transcultural Video Game Fandom: Examining the Heritage Preservation of Video Games and Mediated Fan Activities Cho Kiu (Joseph) LI, Christine Hiu Ying CHOY* and Kin Long TONG Introduction Academic Institutions in the Process of Transcultural Preservation of Video Games 68 Collaboration with RETRO.HK, a Fan-Initiated Association for Promoting Retro Video Game Fandom Exhibition: Mediated Video Game Fandom Education Research Conclusion Notes References 5 The Trading Between Fans: Unraveling the Secondary Fan Market of Idol Photocards in Mainland China Xinuo Chen and Ziqing Ye Introduction Literature Review Methodology Discussions Conclusion References 6 Fandom, Nationalism, and Gender Practice: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the “Azhong-Brother” Posts on Chinese Social Media from 2019 to 2023 Yujie Dong Introduction Critical Discourse Analysis and Social Practices Research Method Analytical Discussions Conclusion References Part II Identities, Activities and Practices7 Building Your International Boy Groups: Nationalism and Cosmopolitanism in Transcultural Fandom Eva Liu Introduction Popular Nationalism and Transcultural Fandom Democratic Entertainment in South Korea and China Methodology Nationalist Imagination of Rising Economic and Cultural Power Promoting National Culture on International Stages Redefining K-pop as Professionalism Symbolic Cosmopolitanism in International Idol Schools “In Love with My Foreign Bro”: Cross-Border Queerbaiting Narratives Concluding Remarks Notes References 8 Transcending Borders: The Digital Queer Spaces of Transcultural Fandom in Boys Love Narratives Tingting Hu, Qiyuan Hu, and Chenchen Zou Introduction: BL Stories in China and Beyond Literature Review: BL Culture in Asia and Beyond “Asia as Method” Approach from a Transcultural Perspective Research Design Community-Based Transmedia Practice Fan Diaspora and Transcultural Dynamics Questionable Queer Normativity and “Progressive” Promises Conclusion Notes References 9 To Be a Fan Is to Be an Antifan: A Frame Analysis of the Seemingly Paradoxical Transcultural Media Fan Practices on Xianqing Jing Bai Introduction The Pink Xianqing Fandom and Nationalism, Fan and Antifan through the Lens of Transcultural Approach 160 Method Frames Behind Conclusion References 10 Vernacular Turns in Transcultural Contexts: The Role of Taiwanese Manga Fans in Political Narratives Erika Ningxin Wang Introduction Vernacular Turns Methodology The “Piracy Era” of Taiwanese Manga Transcultural BL Became Localized in Taiwan Transcultural BL with Vernacular Political Narratives Vernacular Turns of Political Narrative in Transcultural BL Conclusion Notes References 11 “The Negative Experiences of Australian Professional Women Cosplayers” Chris McCutcheon, Mitchell McEwan, Melissa Nile, and Michael Hitchens Background and Literature Reflexivity Statement Method Findings Limitations and Further Study Conclusion Notes References 12 AFL Media Fandom Practices: A Case Study of the Blue Abroad YouTube Channel Alessandra Maia, Camila Mozzini-Alister, Ajit Mozzini-Alister, and Maria Clara Monteiro Introduction Passion and National Identity as a Phenomenon of Fan Culture in the Digital Environment 216 Australian Football League: From Its History to Its Rules Method for Analyzing AFL’s Fandom Practices: Digital Ethnography Media Analysis Final Considerations Notes References Index

"Transcultural fandom gets a long overdue exploration through the eyes of some of the most exciting new East Asian scholars who deserve our attention in the west. This far-reaching book, literally, takes us from K-Pop cafes to global sports fandom, offering a range of different conceptual and methodological approaches."