Asian Visual Cultures

Internet Vulgarities in China is the first comprehensive study to critically examine the cultures, governance and politics of internet vulgarities in Chinese society. Comprising twelve chapters, the authors present empirically rich case studies to explore the nature, regulation and evolution of the internet cultural products, vernacular internet cultures and subcultural online communities which have been officially deemed ‘vulgar’ by the state, official media and policy documents.

From ‘vulgar’ online music, internet literature, memes, web dramas, influencers, video games to online fandoms, this timely book demonstrates that the disciplinary power of China’s ‘anti-vulgarity’ campaigns stems from the state’s strategic use of the ambiguous concept of ‘vulgarity’ to judge and regulate the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of popular digital media cultures. This process of turning language into law—a form of linguistification of rule—functions as a key technique of digital and cultural governance, ensuring that these cultures evolve in accordance with the ideological, moral and cultural values of the party-state.

Internet Vulgarities in China will make a significant contribution to the fields of China’s digital media studies, popular culture studies, internet and cultural governance. It is an essential resource for scholars, researchers and students seeking a critical understanding of China’s digital media cultures and its governance and politics.