The prosperity of animation, comic and game (ACG) industry in China is attributed to the passionate ACG fandom culture, which provide significant consumption demand and supply in creative labor force. To be more specific, the series of comic convention in China provides proactive fans opportunity to explore the industry from their proactive involvement in creating doujinshi (fan derivative arts) and nourish their dreams of being creative labor in the industry. To understand what kind of and how Chinese comic fans use conventions to enhance their professionalism, this paper attempts to measure the habitus of Chinese doujinshi artists. The paper is based on the research conducted by survey (In the Chinese biggest comic convention ComicUp23 held in Shanghai) and participant observation inside the field, and then outlines a general overview of doujins artists from captured statistical data, specifically in terms of their devotion to professional, social capital (the connection with other member inside the field), and cultural capital (the knowledge and taste on Chinese ACG fans community). This approach enables a clearer distinguishment between fans dreaming to be creative labor in industry and normal fans, and how they develop specific tastes and knowledge from their experience. The conclusions drawn about three characteristics of these proactive fans, and how fan action may significantly influence the consumption/production culture of fandom in Chinese ACG industry.

Authors:
Lok Fai Pun, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Boris Pun is a University Postdoctoral Fellow or Instructor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong

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