A Study Of Virtual Idol Fandom Based On Ritual Process Theory

With the development of technology and the growth of digital youth,virtual idols have entered the public eye and become an unavoidable cultural phenomenon in the Internet age.Since its debut,the virtual idol A-SOUL has attracted a large number of fans with its leading technology,high-quality project content and free and open interactive atmosphere.Whether in terms of revenue or influence,A-SOUL is currently one of the top virtual idol groups in China.However,unlike real idol fans with diversified,hierarchical and specialized characteristics,virtual idol fans have more obvious "rebellious" characteristics.On the one hand,they rebel against the social pressure brought by daily life,on the other hand,as fans,they are extremely resistant to "fan culture".The culture of virtual idol fans shows unprecedented richness and complexity.Most of the existing research on virtual idol fans focuses on descriptive research.Such research focuses on how fans complete self-identity through consumption and production.Based on this,this study introduces Turner’s "ritual process" theory to examine the complete "structure-anti-structure-restructure" ritual process of A-SOUL fans and how this ritual process affects fans.The content of this article focuses on the behavioral characteristics of virtual idol fans in the "anti-structure" state and explores the meaning behind these behaviors.The whole article is divided into three stages according to the development process of virtual idol fans’ rituals for discussion.First of all,this article discusses that under the structural dilemma of great employment difficulties,little upward mobility and widespread involution,fans have long been in a state of anxiety and low mood coexisting and urgently need to escape from their current life.Virtual idols create a "third space" separated from the real world for fans with their virtual characteristics,that is,the ritual time-space.In this ritual time-space,fans can enter the "anti-structure" state,escape from daily norms through informal language catharsis,unconventional behavior performance and new role construction,build interpersonal relationships,and show resistance to the hierarchical culture of fan circles through "anti-fan heads" and "anti-small groups".However,as a balancing mechanism to regulate society,the "anti-structure" will eventually transform into the "restructure".In the social return of the restructure,fans have accumulated cultural capital.This article believes that behind the transformation of "structure-anti-structure-restructure" of virtual idol fans reflects the identity of individuals and groups,the mediation of organizational culture and the incorporation of social culture.From a more macro perspective,this ritual practice is actually the "anti-structure" stage in the social process,and the conflicts and oppositions it brings promote the overall development of society through continuous integration.