Abstract
Fictional narratives in many ways reflect how we conceptualize and categorize reality. From this perspective, fiction and reality are not necessarily unrelated, and fantasy is usually based somewhat on reality. So, while reality opens up opportunities for fiction, fantasy can influence our perception of reality. Therefore, the fantasy genre can be seen as serving multiple functions. First, it reflects certain aspects of a society. For example, the recent popularity of online fantasy novels in China reflects the change of worldviews in a new generation of readers. Specifically, the general storyline of these novels tends to parallel the status and struggles of many people in contemporary society. Further, these online fantasy novels satisfy certain psychological needs of the younger generation, providing a space for them to release their frustration. Additionally, the success stories of the characters in these novels potentially gives the younger generation great psychological comfort and the courage to believe in themselves. Finally, these online fantasy novels also gratify some readers’ need to escape. Analyzing fantasy narratives also provides insight into the influence of mythology on people’s mentality, values, and patterns of behavior. Based on an online fantasy novel and produced by iQiYi, the world’s largest online streaming platform, Love between Fairy and Devil (2022) has reached unprecedented popularity in the history of Chinese TV dramas. Through critical discourse analysis, this study examines the show and its relationship with and reflections of contemporary Chinese society.
Presenters
Shu Ling Chen BerggreenAssociate Professor, Media Studies, University of Colorado-Boulder, Colorado, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Love Between Fairy and Devil, Fantasy Genre, Mythology, Contemporary China, Popular Culture, Media and Society
