Erika Ningxin Wang 王宁馨
Fandom, ritual, and the everyday of digital China
I am a media anthropologist, ethnographer, PI, and educator, investigating the everyday “fandomization” of China in contemporary youth culture.
My work centers on “Idol China” — an exploration of how patriotic narratives have migrated from top-down ideologies into the intimate, daily practices of young people. I study the moment a nation becomes a cultural icon. My research maps the new power structures, cultural meanings, and social frictions that emerge when the world of “fans” and the world of “state” collide.
Assistant Professor
in Media, Pop Culture, and Creative Industries
香港中文大学（深圳）
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Cited, read, archived
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Fandom Nationalism: Participatory Censorship and Performative Patriotism in East Asia
Participatory Censorship With Illusory Empowerment
Cyber-nationalism and celebrity: the Zhehan Zhang controversy
Squid Game Outside the Wall: Fandom Nationalism in China
Scapegoating Fandom: Digital Colonialism, Capitalism, and State
Fandom Nationalism: The Shield & The Sword→
The origin of "toxic" digital culture — tracking how nationalism is weaponized within fan communities, and how patriotic discourse serves as an "amulet of legitimacy": a shield to protect one's own standing and a sword to denounce rivals.
Everyday Fandomization
"Idol China" manifests in the intimate details of the everyday. I document how young people perform patriotism through diverse practices:
- The Living — Treating giant pandas and Ping Pong players as idols with dedicated fandoms.
- The Historical — Offering fan-fiction at the graves of historical figures.
- The Material — Hanfu practitioners advocating for the meticulous restoration of historical garment patterns (Xingzhi) as a vehicle for Han ethnic cultural revitalization.
- The Corporate — Treating domestic tech giants like Huawei as "National Idols" to be defended against global competition. In this landscape, the nation itself appears as a symbolic idol, shaping how young people understand nature, history, and consumption.
Platform Power: Patriotic Storytelling in the Market
Patriotism is the new currency for market actors. I study how wholesalers in the Greater Bay Area, e-commerce streamers, and shanzhai luxury bosses use "Patriotic Storytelling" to drive sales.
From "New Chinese Style" (新中式) fashion to "Patriotic Replicas" (祖国版), I analyze how the digital economy creates a uniquely Chinese context for global consumption.
My Philosophy
I believe that to understand these macro-shifts, we must start with the human experience. I approach my work with the ethnographic humility to listen and learn from the point of view of those living within these systems.
"I want to understand the world from your point of view. I want to know what you know in the way you know it… Will you become my teacher and help me understand?"
— James Spradley (1979)
I am always looking to engage in East–West dialogues regarding consumer culture, digital nationalism, and the complex humanity of our digital age. If you have a story to share, I am here to listen.