ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

 Ziwei  Tang

Ziwei Tang

PhD Researcher

Department of Media and Communications

Languages
English, Japanese, Mandarin
Key Expertise
Media fandoms, Intimate relationships

About me

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 ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ 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

Expertise Details

Media fandoms; Intimate relationships; China; Feminist media studies; Active audience