Seriously playful : the uses of networked spoof videos in China

摘要: This thesis examines online spoof videos in China. It shows the relationship between user-created content and change how such are impacting on social memory. In West, we witnessing two outstanding trends media. On one hand, media turning more "demotic" (Turner, 2006) "participatory" (Jenkins, 2006), whereby lay audiences use popular for identity formation, representation association, reconfiguring cultural landscape, rendering invalid old paradigm based dichotomy of audience author, creator consumer, expert amateur. other both mainstream user-creation there is a trend towards "silly citizenship", with comedy, send-ups spoofs that used to reside margin propelled central stage pleasure politics (Hartley, 2010), as shown rising popularity Daily Show, Colbert Report, elections ,e.g. 2008 presidential election US (Gray, Jones, & Thompson, 2009; Tryon, 2008). User generated content—and subcultures—is now much debated phenomenon However, different political (one party rule censorship) (media regarded mainly instrument education stabilization instead critical fourth estate) configurations, will impacts West be same China? If not, what specificities China context? The project starts historical review culture China, before looking at they produced shared, travel diffused Internet, communities sub-cultures forming emerging around changing overall landscape China. By acting participant observer video sharing sites conducting face-to face well interviews, I identify lead users creators networks them. call these "skill hubs" their "liquid communities", foregrounding fact appeal doesn’t come from amicable personality, but rather creative skills; surrounding them permanent flux, members coming going see fit. argue "liquidness" (Bauman, 2000) makes constantly appealing. Textual analysis videos, comments derivatives conducted tease out uses can made namely phatic communication, alternative memory engagement. Through analyses show constitute not only space where young generations engage each other, communicate anger dissatisfaction, fun hope, participate socio-cultural debates, also create experiment new skills, ideas, citizenship. rise heralds beginning contemporary "canonization jester" dethroning establishment. I perspective needed understand current surge creativity user activism many forms experience today have antecedents various stages Chinese history. entrenched "control-resistance" binary inadequate interpreting rich, flux multilayered Internet