Investigating Chinese Showbusiness Masculinity in Web 2.0 Environment
A Comparative Analysis of Two Male-Centered Variety Shows
- DOI
- 10.2991/assehr.k.211020.320How to use a DOI?
- Keywords
- Chinese masculinity, show business, Web 2.0
- Abstract
The recent Chinese variety show Youth with You Season 3 has stirred up fierce discussions about the state of Chinese traditional hegemonic masculinity domestically due to the androgynous male images that several idols in the show display. Given the context of Web 2.0, this study therefore aims to explore the representation trend of Chinese masculinity in show business and what role Web 2.0 plays in this seemingly changing process. We made a comparative analysis of Chinese male idols respectively from Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 talent shows based on 4 major observing aspects, including costume and makeup, on-stage performances, bearing and behavior off stage, and language expression. Findings from our analysis reveal that Chinese masculinity in the entertainment industry tends to turn ‘soft’ or ‘metrosexual’. Yet, the revamped masculinity still exhibits essential characteristics of traditional male ideologies. The study further underscores that the emergence of the soft male ideal in Chinese show business can be attributed to the increasingly diversified means of communication and growing influence of female and younger groups in the Web 2.0 era.
- Copyright
- © 2021, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
- Open Access
- This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Cite this article
TY - CONF AU - Wenjia Chen AU - Mengxin Hu AU - Zhuonan Zhong PY - 2021 DA - 2021/10/21 TI - Investigating Chinese Showbusiness Masculinity in Web 2.0 Environment BT - Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Public Relations and Social Sciences (ICPRSS 2021) PB - Atlantis Press SP - 1144 EP - 1150 SN - 2352-5398 UR - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211020.320 DO - 10.2991/assehr.k.211020.320 ID - Chen2021 ER -