Internet and self-regulation in China: the cultural logic of controlled commodification

Article


Weber, Ian and Lu, Jia. 2007. "Internet and self-regulation in China: the cultural logic of controlled commodification." Media Culture and Society. 29 (5), pp. 772-789. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443707080536
Article Title

Internet and self-regulation in China: the cultural logic of controlled commodification

ERA Journal ID9239
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsWeber, Ian (Author) and Lu, Jia (Author)
Journal TitleMedia Culture and Society
Journal Citation29 (5), pp. 772-789
Number of Pages18
Year2007
PublisherSAGE Publications Ltd
Place of PublicationLondon, United Kingdom
ISSN0163-4437
1460-3675
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443707080536
Abstract

This article examines the implementation of self-regulation in China's internet sector through the forging of subtler control relationships between media corporations and the state. It uses three case studies of domestic and global media joint venture operations in the converging areas of online and mobile gaming to show how media commercialization is balanced by control modalities to reaffirm the government as a central agency in the gradual transition to a socialist-market economy. Within these processes of controlled commodification, the government uses trust-building to establish cultural leadership as a way of protecting political and social cohesion while benefiting from global economic integration. The study reveals the cultural logic, or hegemonic norm, that underpins the new bottom-up business model for media management in China. Underscoring these processes, however, is a quasi-Sartrean irony of 'winner loses' logic, whereby increased transparency or access to information is limited to entertainment and not a substantially greater say for citizens in the formulation of China's future.

KeywordsChina; commodification; control; internet; regulation
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020440701. Communications and media policy
470102. Communication technology and digital media studies
460508. Information retrieval and web search
Public Notes

© 2007 SAGE Publications. Published version deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

Byline AffiliationsTexas A&M University, United States
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