Chaoyang Trap: a newsletter about the latest internet memes, media and subcultures in China today
Posted on by The Editor
Tag: memes
From rice bunnies to grass mud horses, an interview with An Xiao Mina
Posted on by An Xiao Mina
Follow the Magpie, a rare stream of primary research about social media in China
Posted on by Jason Li
Christina Xu, Tricia Wang, and Pheona Chen just launched a new newsletter about the conversations and trends happening on the internet in China today and we should all subscribe now.
In their opening essay about the project, they write:
Our goal is to create something…
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Digital murals of Cantonese proverbs and profanity… translated
Posted on by Jason Li
Graphic artist Ahto (阿塗) has just released his second digital mural documenting modern Cantonese in Hong Kong: this time, it features Cantonese profanity. Originally featured in City Magazine, Ahto has released an animated version online!
Kind commenters on the Cantonese subreddit have translated some of the terms depicted above. Here’s a selection of…
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Upcoming event: memes, puns and selfies, a look at Chinese digital culture
Posted on by The Editor
Our very own An Xiao Mina will be hosting an evening at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco next week (July 2). From their website:
Writer, critic, artist and technologist An Xiao Mina has designed an interactive program that will explore the visual culture of the Chinese Internet. First,…
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How the Umbrella ‘Revolution’ meme hurt the movement in Hong Kong
Posted on by Jason Li
The ongoing protests for democracy in Hong Kong have been dubbed by many as the “Umbrella Revolution.” But days before the term was created, the dominant internet meme supporting the protests was built around student selfies accompanied by hashtags #HKClassBoycott and #HKStudentStrike. This was in line with what was then a students-only protest. Supporters participated by finding a photo…
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Anti-shanzhai memes, copycat gamemakers and Korean popstars
Posted on by Jason Li
This month, South Korean boy band sensation Big Bang arrives in Hong Kong as the newly-minted spokesperson…
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Four Thoughts on Ai Weiwei’s Gangnam Style: Meme-ing as Activism
Posted on by An Xiao Mina
Until recently, I hadn’t seen Ai Weiwei’s Gangnam Style remix, but I definitely heard about it. Everyone on my social media feeds has been talking about, and people have emailed it to me. I’ve seen hilarious-looking pictures and read the commentary. But I’ve just not been able to sit down and watch it.
Why…
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In Defense of Memes Defending Themselves
Posted on by An Xiao Mina
My talk at the Personal Democracy Forum at NYU’s Kimmel Center
My talk at ROFLCon III at MIT
Political memes have been on my mind as of late. It started with ROFLCon at MIT and moved on to more discussions,…
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