Project Title

Imagined Intimacy in Chinese celebrity fandoms 

Research Topic

My research interest lies in Chinese celebrity fandoms that are predominantly constituted by female fans. I am studying the psychological, social, and structural mechanisms behind the pseudo-intimate relationships formed between fans and their object of fandom. I also look at fans’ consumptive behaviours and their roles in enacting and sustaining the imagined intimacy.

Biography

I graduated from LSE with a degree in BSc Mathematics and Economics. I further pursued my interests in quantitative modelling when studying at Imperial College London with a degree in MSc Risk Management and Financial Engineering. After graduation, I worked as an auditor at Deloitte LLP and obtained my professional qualification as a chartered accountant registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountant in England and Wales (ICAEW). 

After leaving the industry, I obtained a degree in MA Japanese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) with Distinction. For my dissertation, I studied Chinese fans of Japanese male idols from Johnny’s Association and their transnational consumption of intimacy. After graduating from SOAS, I studied at Waseda University in Tokyo and graduated with the Dean’s List Award in MA International Relations. I studied fans’ voting practices in the talent contest show Chuang 2021 for my master's thesis at Waseda. I looked at the role played by affect and how fans’ affective experiences formed the foundation of their meaning making. 

Supervisors: Professor Bingchun Meng and Professor Shakuntala Banaji