Fandom Nationalism
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Speaker
Dr Erika Ningxin Wang is an assistant professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Dr Qian Huang is an assistant professor of digital cultures at University of Groningen in the Netherlands
Dr Erika Ningxin Wang is an assistant professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. Erika’s research interests lie at the intersection of youth culture, digital media, and state governance. She has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the Audience Section in the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) and the Early Career Representative of the International Communication Association, Division of Popular Media and Culture. Her recent publications in fan studies appear in Social Media+Society, Asian Studies Review, Communication Culture and Critique, and Celebrity Studies.
Dr Qian Huang is an assistant professor of digital cultures at University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She is the PI of a 4-year (2026-2029) project funded by NWO (The Dutch Research Council) Veni Talent Scheme, "Negotiating Digital Visibility: Public Intellectuals' Cautious Labor." She has published articles on Chinese digital vigilantism, digital visibility, cancel culture in fandom, and nationalism in China in peer-reviewed journals such as International Journal of Cultural Studies, Social Media+Society, and International Journal of Communication. She has co-authored the book Digital Media, Denunciation and Shaming: The Court of Public Opinion (2025), and co-edited the volume Introducing Vigilant Audiences (2020) as well as the special issue Negotiating Digital Visibility in Aisa in the journal Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.
Abstract
This book talk, led by authors Dr. Erika Ningxin Wang and Dr. Qian Huang, delves into the unexpected collision of pop culture and political identity across East Asia, primarily in China. The authors will introduce their core conceptualization—"participatory censorship" and "performative patriotism"—demonstrating how fan devotion and anti-fan hatred are weaponized with nationalist fervor to enforce political boundaries. The discussion will draw upon an in-depth case study (such as the Zhang Zhehan case) to highlight the mechanics of this digital warfare and its role in the "cancellation" of top celebrities. The session will expand into a broader discussion about fandom and nationalism across the region, examining how fan communities navigate institutional scrutiny and power structures. This talk is essential for anyone interested in digital culture, media regulation, and identity politics. The authors look forward to a lively Q&A session for a rich exchange with fellow researchers.
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