Platformized production of homonationalism: An ethnography of queer media production in China

Abstract

Queer media production research, almost exclusively conducted in the western context, predominantly focuses on the queer-capital interplay and overlooks the role of the state in contexts where the state remains the dominant force in limiting LGBTQ rights. In bridging queer media production with homonationalism, this paper presents an ethnographic account of Danlan, the longest-lasting commercial queer media in China. We demonstrate that Danlan is experimenting with a nationalism-infused, non-confrontational, and de-westernized approach to LGBTQ visibility that requires it to align with the Chinese authority and distance from the framework of LGBTQ advocacy deemed western. Situated in the context of platformization, homonationalism also functions as a template for workers at Danlan to facilitate everyday production while minimizing political risks and increasing traffic, which further complicates its social-political implications. We understand this form of homonationalism as a quotidian platform practice that relies on intentional self-depoliticization and alignment with the state to sustain itself.