Science Research  Academic Press

Virtual Idol Fan Culture: The "Third Space" of The Digital Age

Yiwei Chen 
Dong Wang 
Keywords: virtual idols;fan culture;third space;imaged community.

Abstract

Virtual idol fan groups have gradually integrated with mainstream culture from the initial subcultural tribes, and formed a mature virtual idol fan group regional chain. The fan group space it creates not only carries specific commercial purposes, but also is a social collective memory and imagination community. The fan group regards virtual idols as totems for gathering, and individuals with values and resonance play their respective roles in the fan group. The various spatial members in the group are worth exploring. This article analyzes the most popular virtual idols and discusses the universality of attraction aggregation maintenance in the fan group space. It also studies the dissemination logic of the spatial form of virtual idol fan groups in the internet era.