The world is collapsing, but we are in love: Xianxia romance as therapeutic governance in neo/non-liberal China

ABSTRACT

Canglanjue, a xianxia web series about the forbidden love between a fairy and a devil, attracted widespread media attention during the summer of 2022. This series offers a therapeutic space about ideal romance for female audiences by incorporating fantastical elements with the burgeoning ethos of ideal masculinity and female empowerment. Through the conceptual lens of neo/non-liberal China, this article examines how Canglanjue’s therapeutic value is intertwined with both “Confucian structures of feeling” as well as contemporary China’s emotional authoritarianism. It is argued that xianxia romance is not merely a utopian ideal distinct from materialistic romance but rather a cultural production that contributes to contemporary China’s therapeutic governance.

KEYWORDS:

• Love drama
• canglanjue web series
• xianxia romance
• therapeutic governance
• emotional authoritarianism

Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank the editors and reviewer for their valuable feedback.

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Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

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Notes on contributors

Xinying Yang

Xinying Yang is a Ph.D. student at the School of Journalism and Communication, Xiamen University. Her research interests lie in social media and women’s health as well as Chinese feminist connective activism. She can be contacted via [email protected].