Romancing the Internet

Jin Feng, Ph.D. (2000), from the University of Michigan, is Professor of Chinese at Grinnell College. She has published monographs, translation, and articles in English and Chinese on Chinese culture, including Ginling College (1915-1952): The Making of a Family Saga (SUNY, 2009).

"Yet, despite the undeniable cultural influence and financial clout of web-based literature, it is only with the 2013 publication of Jin Feng’s Romancing the Internet: Producing and Consuming Chinese Web Romance, that we have the first English-language book dedicated to a major genre within this hugely significant—as well as simply huge—area of cultural production."Heather Inwood, Modern Chinese Literature and Culture, Resource Center Publication (August 2014)“Romancing the Internet” is an extremely stimulating read for scholars of gender and women’s studies and for those interested in Chinese popular culture in general and internet literature in particular.” Elisabeth Schleep, University of Freiburg, 1-3"...Feng undertakes the ambitious but much needed task of examining the immense (and ever-expanding) volume and vibrant culture of Web romance to investigate the ways in which contemporary Chinese women’s reading and writing experiences 'help them to reinvent their gender and cultural identities.' ... this innovative audience-focused literary study adeptly employs various analytical tools, including close reading, linguistic and discourse analysis, sociological data, focus group study, one-on-one interviews, and participant observation." Hui Faye Xiao Asia Pacific Perspectives, Spring/Summer 2014

• Introduction: This is Not Your Mother's Qiong YaoFan ProductionInterdisciplinary ImprovisationOrganization of Chapters1. A Short GenealogyThe Politics and Economics of Web PublishingThe Popular MindStud, Farming, and Magic-Space Fiction: Characteristics and TrendsThe Pleasure of RepetitionRomantic Love with Chinese Characteristics2. Addicted to BeautyThree Players and the TextTextual PoachingTime Travel in Danmei FictionThe Androgynous ReaderConclusion3. "Men Conquer the World and Women Save Mankind"Clues from InterviewsThe Supreme HeroineThree PrincessesConclusion4. Rewriting Classics, Righting WrongsTricks of the TradeRewriting ClassicsDanmei FanficAnti-Qiong Yao FanficConclusion5. How to Make Mr. Right?Seeking Mr. Right?The Ideal HeroWho Is More "Economical and Serviceable"?Reading Zhifou: Strategies and NegotiationsMaking Mr. RightConclusionCoda: What Does Chinese Web Romance Do?Remaking Popular RomanceCreating the Self in a CrowdA New Woman Born of the E-Age?Appendix: Glossary of Chinese and Japanese CharactersBibliographyIndex