Desiring Wanghuang: Live Streaming, Porn Consumption and Acts of Citizenship among Gay Men in Digital China. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Lin
• Other Names: Ruberg Bo guest-editor.; Brewer Johanna guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Television & new media. Volume 23:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 498
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Wanghuang -- desire -- live-streaming -- platformization -- gay porn consumption -- acts of citizenship; Télévision -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Télévision -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Médias -- Publics -- Périodiques; Civilisation -- Histoire -- Périodiques; Television broadcasting -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Digital media -- Periodicals; 302.234505
• DOI: 10.1177/15274764221080914
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1527-4764

Abstract

This paper investigates Chinese gay men's consumption of domestic pornography on international social network platforms following the country's anti-porn campaigns targeting live streaming. Set against the backdrop of China's illiberal digital landscape characterized by rapid platformization and evolving Internet governance, the paper draws on in-depth interviews with twenty-one Chinese young gay men to explore how they take advantage of digital platforms and algorithms to creatively and resiliently carve out a space for expressing same-sex desires in a precarious environment. It argues that, although these creative acts of sexual citizenship empower gay men in self-understanding and community-building, they are also critically limited by China's intertwining neoliberal and illiberal cultures.