Book captures emotions behind fan culture boom

As "fan circles" — communities formed around shared devotion to celebrities — continue to grow into a defining feature of contemporary pop culture, scholars are beginning to take them seriously. A new book, Fan Circle Chronicle: Love, Data, and Power, steps directly into this space.

Authors Ma Zhonghong, a professor at Soochow University, and Tang Leshui, an associate professor at Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, spent five years immersing themselves in fan communities. Through in-depth interviews with young fans, they documented everyday practices, from data-driven ranking campaigns to financial support for idols, gathering raw, firsthand insights into how these circles operate.

The book goes beyond fan culture itself, including technological ethics and the digital economy. More than just a compelling work of narrative nonfiction, it also draws on theories from sociology, communication studies, and cultural studies to offer a comprehensive yet accessible systematic analysis of fan behavior.

Ma is a leading scholar in the field of youth subculture studies. Since 2008, she has maintained a sustained interest in heterogeneous and niche groups. She argues that fan communities deserve to be understood on their own terms — neither dismissed nor idealized.

Dong Chenyu, an associate professor at Renmin University of China, notes that the book adopts an insider's perspective rather than an outsider's gaze. Its strength, he notes, lies in its "presence" and "equality".

"For five years, the two authors approached their work without sensationalism or preconceptions. They spoke directly with numerous young fans, conducted fieldwork and interviews, and attended events to observe and feel, seeking to understand and ask: Why are these young people willing to invest so much time, energy, and money into this pursuit? What truly drives them? What do they gain in return? And what role do commerce and capital play behind it all?" he says.

"Perhaps 10 years from now, the book will serve as a historical slice of this era, showing future generations how we lived through these times. It captures not just fan culture, but the emotions, the love and loss of a generation," he adds.