Cyber-nationalism and celebrity: the Zhehan Zhang controversy

作者：Tingting Hu, Erika Ningxin Wang · 发表于：Celebrity Studies · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1080/19392397.2024.2428142 · 被引用次数：2

ABSTRACT This article uncovers an increasingly dominant hyper-nationalistic digital landscape in mainland China, illustrated by the prohibition and complete removal of Chinese actor and celebrity Zhehan Zhang after he posted on Instagram photos of a trip to Japan, which included pictures of the Yasukuni Shrine buildings, a potent symbol of Japanese militarism. This landscape of pervasive censorship impacts public figures and regular netizens alike, in which context nationalism becomes a powerful tool for ousting individuals based on ‘past mistakes’. Our analysis reveals a dual consequence: a combined censorship approach by authorities and netizens, targeting various individuals, while reinforcing implicit approval of this cyber-nationalistic atmosphere.