Chinese pop culture |

The Indie Game Decoding the Gay Male Reality

Dec 12, 2018 / Chinasplaining /

‘A Gay’s Life’ combines entertainment and information to educate and promote tolerance. Read More

What Reality Show 101 Tells Us About Contemporary Femininity in China

Aug 27, 2018 / Opinion /

In contemporary China, sassy idols like singer Wang Ju – also referred to as “the Chinese Beyonce” – are garnering attention for embodying the rise of female empowerment. Read More

Meet China’s Latest Unlikely Gay Icon

Jun 1, 2018 / Celebrity /

Tanned, curvy, glamorous, and “old” by idol standards at 25, the Shanghainese talent show contestant has taken China’s social media by storm. In particular, Wang has secured a firm fan base of gay men and feminists through her stint on “Produce 101.” Read More

How Cinematic Heroes Reflect a New, Assertive China

Jan 30, 2018 / Chinasplaining /

Both consciously and unconsciously, popular art, film, and literature have started to express this return to great-nation status and depict China as an ultramodern entity. Read More

How Jack Ma’s Tin-Eared Fans Reveal China’s Obsession With Celebrity Culture

Nov 28, 2017 / Chinasplaining /

Online reaction to the e-commerce mogul’s pop duet proves that we love nothing more than to fawn over the wealthy. Read More

China’s Cultural Revivalists: More Than Just Quirky Throwbacks

Nov 14, 2017 / Chinasplaining /

Robe-wearing, zither-playing ‘fugu’ fans revel in their own eccentricity, but they are also making a deeper political point. Read More

How This Chinese Video Company is Thriving on Youth-generated Content

Nov 7, 2017 / Technology /

Did Bilibili, who now holds not only content copyrights but also the government green light, cross the political line like its competitor did? One would need to inspect all of the missing content to find out. Read More