Overview

This book examines different forms and practices of queer media, that is, the films, websites, zines and film festivals produced by, for and about LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) people in China in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. It traces how queer communities have emerged in urban China and the pivotal role that community media have played in the process. It also explores how these media shape community cultures and perform the role of social and political activism in a country where queer identities have only recently emerged and explicit forms of social activism are under serious political constraints. Importantly, because queer media is "niche" and "narrowcasting" rather than "broadcasting" and "mass communication", the subject compels a rethinking of some often-taken-for-granted assumptions about how media relates to the state, the market and individuals. Overall, the book reveals a great deal about queer communities and identities, queer activism and about media and social and political attitudes in China.