Construction Of Fan-Idol Quasi-intimacy Relationship

In the age of the Internet,social media provides more possibilities for interaction and communication between fans and idols,leading to a closer and more complex relationship between them.On one hand,idols can use media technology to show their daily lives in real time,blurring or even shifting the line between the front and backstage,breaking down the distance and mystery between idols and fans.On the other hand,fans can use social platforms to interact with idols,making their relationship more similar to social interactions,which leads to a structural change towards pseudo-intimacy between fans and idols.Therefore,starting from a relational perspective and using the quasi-social relationship theory,this article analyzes the specific connotations,construction process,and reasons for the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols using Lu Han’s fans as an example,through participatory observation and in-depth interviews.Through interviews with Lu Han’s fans,this article obtained first-hand information on the construction of pseudo-intimate relationships between fans and idols.Combined with the author’s observation of fans’ interactions with idols on Weibo,this article obtained relevant auxiliary data,which allows for a more detailed presentation of the construction process of the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols.Through research,this article found that the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols is an imaginary intimate relationship constructed in a virtual space,between the virtual incarnation(fan ID)and the virtual reality(idol persona),and its types mainly include pseudo-partner relationship,pseudo-parent-child relationship,and pseudo-sibling relationship.The construction process of the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols involves the idols providing intimate imagination space and materials through self-disclosure and persona building,and then the fans becoming more and more deeply involved in the relationship through cognitive involvement,emotional involvement,and behavioral involvement.Finally,fans and idols maintain the pseudo-intimate relationship through continuous relationship labor,achieving the strengthening of the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols.In addition,this study also explores the reasons for the emergence of pseudo-intimate relationships between fans and idols from the perspectives of fans’ projection psychology,transference psychology,group pressure,and real-life difficulties.In summary,the pseudo-intimate relationship between fans and idols is an imaginary relationship formed by fans and idols in a virtual space.It is different from quasi-social relationships,and its construction involves the reciprocal efforts of fans and idols to a certain extent.It is hoped that this study can update the understanding of the relationship between fans and idols,enrich the academic research on fan culture,and enrich the theoretical connotations of quasi-social relationships.