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The making of an online celebrity: A critical analysis of Han Han's blog
Journal
China Information
ISSN
0920-203X
ISSN-Digital
1741-590X
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2015-11-05
Author(s)
Abstract
In the ‘society of the spectacle', according to Guy Debord, ‘smug acceptance of what exists can also merge with purely spectacular rebellion' and dissatisfaction itself becomes a commodity. Drawing on his reflections on celebrity and the spectacle, this article analyses the highly popular blog of novelist and racing car driver Han Han (born 1982). By doing so, it explores the relation between Han Han's celebrity and his voice as a social critic. The analysis focuses on how Han Han's blog thrives on the combination of his celebrity status and Everyman image; how it contrasts ‘anti-intellectualism' in the tradition of Wang Shuo (born 1958) with elements of literati ideology including moderate loyal criticism and cultural nationalism; and how it negotiates the tension between commercial spectacle and the expression of sociopolitical concerns. The article also argues that unlike citizen journalism, Han Han's blog relies on editorial commentary on hot topics and acts as a ‘safety valve' blog. This article aims to contribute to understanding the rise in China's cybersphere of a celebrity who merges the images of rebel, opinion leader and cultural entrepreneur.
Language
English
Keywords
Internet
political satire
Chinese bloggers
cultural nationalism
anti-intellectual
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Sage Publ.
Publisher place
London
Volume
29
Number
3
Start page
352
End page
376
Pages
25
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
245332