When transcultural fandom meets nationalism: Chinese cosplayers’ identity negotiation between global flows and local places

Abstract

This study investigates the identity negotiation of Chinese cosplayers within the tensions between transcultural fandom and nationalism. Grounded in Manuel Castells’ concepts of space of flows and space of places, we propose a framework that distinguishes between the cognitive and behavioral dimensions of identity negotiation. The cognitive dimension captures cosplayers’ engagement with global fandom through digital platforms; the behavioral dimension reflects their local, embodied practices shaped by national socio-political contexts. Based on in-depth interviews, our findings identify four cognitive approaches—interest-driven globalists, nationalist cultural guardians, localization cultural advocates, and aesthetic fit strategists; and three behavioral strategies—avoidance, ambiguity, and caution. By revealing how Chinese cosplayers balance their passion for global culture with national identity demands, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of transcultural fandom in East Asia.