The spectacle of wailing, weeping, swooning, groveling fans has
prompted China to crack down on vulgar star-making shows. TV scenes
of out-of-control teenage girls are to be avoided.
The star is in the spotlight, enjoying all the flowers, acclaim
and opportunities. The frenetic fans - crucial to his success - are
in the virtual dark, screaming for the merest glance from their
hero on stage.
He is the idol, they are the worshipers, overwhelmingly teenage
girls. This fan-idol relationship is powerful and compelling to
many young women. It can also be fragile as fans are notoriously
fickle and fame is often short-lived.
The star has the charisma (also manufactured by fans and
promoters) to make fans swoon, scream, weep and go wild for him -
in short, to make his career. But the fans, in turn, can make or
break him, especially as so many talent shows rely on fan votes to
determine the winners.
While he is basking in the limelight, many fans are queuing just
to see him in person, to gratify their yearning, some would say to
give focus to their lives. Many see this as unhealthy.
It's a symbiotic relationship. He needs them, they need him. It
would seem that the two cannot live without each other.
While the focus is usually on the stars, let's focus on the fans
and spotlight the fan scene itself.
Fans are passionate, neurotic and fickle everywhere in the
world, but China's fan phenomenon is particularly prodigious - some
would say egregious - as star-making talent shows are all the rage.
Some of the best known are "My Hero," "My Show," "Super Girl" and
"Happy Boy," but there are many others nationwide.
The fervid fan scene itself and the spectacle of wailing,
frenetic fans has become a source of concern to authorities. The
scenes of near hysteria, including fans who appear to faint, are
regularly televised in the talent contests.
?
Some fans, virtually all members of fan clubs or communities,
follow their young idol wannabes around. Obsessive fans even
prepare meals for the humble grassroots aspirants when they fall
ill and even telephone them to remind them to stay warm and take
their medicine.
It's like Beatlemania with Chinese characteristics.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television last
Thursday issued strict regulations limiting TV star-making shows
that rely on the buzz, the hype and the profitable votes by fans
using mobile phone SMS, the Internet or telephone.
Such voting is banned, the shows are banned from prime time,
live broadcasts are banned, except for finals, televised scenes of
out-of-control fans are to be avoided.
The ban on voting, which is part of the thrill and largely
determines the winners, will clearly affect fan clubs' efforts to
attract more voting fans. Passionate fans say that doesn't matter
and they will continue to follow their stars on the way to the top,
and in their careers.
However, there are fake fans - fans for hire - who must be
disappointed as their income will decline. No one knows how many
there are and no one admits to being one, however, the Internet is
abuzz with reports about fans who faint for money.
One newspaper, Shanghai Wednesday, reported late last month that
some fans earn 20 yuan (US$2.70) for holding up a sign, 50 yuan for
screaming, 100 yuan for bursting into tears and 200 yuan for
falling down in a faint.
It also reported that the unidentified star makers who pay
professional fans also categorize them as blue collars, white
collars and gold collars. Blue collars do the basics, show up,
cheer and wave signs; white collars deliver more passion and tears,
and the gold collars even more - swooning and other antics.
Insiders reveal that those so-called "professional fans" can
earn 2,000 to 3,000 yuan a month. Their basic job is queuing up and
screaming out at the shows. Usually they use eyedrops and tissue to
create the most touching moments. They buy a lot of tablets to
soothe sore throats hoarse from screaming.
However, this new theatrical vocation doesn't receive good
reviews from Netizens. One who calls himself "Sweet Dog" criticizes
the false tears and smiles of these "employees," calling the fake
frenzy "an offspring of the fast-food entertainment industry."
All of this paid-for passion is unethical and probably illegal,
but probably impossible to stop.
The "real" earnest fans, who are deeply involved in their fan
communities, naturally disapprove.
Like Elisabeth Xiao, 21-year-old leader of a 600-member Shanghai
fan community for "My Hero" winner Jing Boran, 18.
"Our love for Jing is in our hearts, with no thought for a
reward," says Xiao, a university junior who pays sizable fan
activity expenses out of her own pocket. "When love is mixed with
money, the work is no longer pure, it's just acting."
She says the new state regulations "won't have a big influence
on our work as we always call for a moderate and more rational way
to support our star."
However, according to Wang Lei, a veteran journalist who covers
the TV beat, Xiao and other fans have inevitably been plunged into
the utilitarian idol-making industry.
"The idol business tries to form and maintain a community of
fans," he says. "Star-making shows enable someone to proceed on the
way to superstardom, and some crazy fans will finance that. But the
point is whether the star is really worth it. Isn't he acting to
look nice and perfect?"
Xiao and her fans, mostly teenage girls, are model fans. Xiao
says her four months as fan leader were fascinating and rewarding.
Xiao, who dresses in clobber style, is a typical Shanghainese girl,
smart, capable and stylish. During a two-hour interview, her cell
phone kept ringing. She uses Jing's words as her SMS alert.
"As I am an ordinary and low-key person, I didn't expect to
stand up and manage a community with about 600 members," she
says.
Xiao was one of Jing's earliest fans. Given the boy from
Shenyang's lack of recognition in the city, she took on the job of
fan club leader in June. Each star's fan club has its special name,
identical T-shirts and headgear. Jing's fans are called "Baby
Faces" because Jing sometimes wears a puffed-cheeks baby-face
expression. The fans wear bunny ears and blue shirts.
The community is highly organized. "Different tasks and skills
mean more efficient team work. Accountants handle membership fees
and specific people prepare props and accessories, like flashing
signs. Good writers come up with catchy slogans," says Xiao.
On many weekends the teens gathered downtown to promote their
"hero," urging passerbys to vote for him.
"I once stood in the scorching sun for eight hours without
eating any food," Xiao recalls of her missionary work.
Her hard work paid off. Jing received more than 450,000 SMS
votes in July's final. He was signed by the Huayi Brothers Media
Group and received a Peugeot car and promotion contracts.
"We take pride in him," says Wang Wei, Xiao's high school
classmate and fellow fan. "The young man who was reared by his
grandparents after his parents were divorced has such a pure and
strong heart."
Though the curtain has fallen on the contest, Xiao has a
continuing mission: maintaining Jing's popularity in the
competitive and risky entertainment industry.
Jing's promotion agency asks Xiao's help in getting market
feedback on his singing or acting programs. The fan club is ideal
place to conduct surveys and it helps collect names for
promotions.
Many fans envy her easier access to the star. But the unpaid
work entails a lot of drudgery, and it's costly.
The 30-yuan membership fee doesn't cover the club's budget for
activities, gifts, supplies and communications fees. Xiao has spent
more than 2,000 yuan of her own money to make up the
difference.
She keeps in touch with Jing's agent, gets the latest on the
star's activities and posts the news on the BBS on Baidu and
Tianya.
"When he arrives in the city, we will meet him at the airport,
giving him warm hugs and applause," Xiao says. "His career has just
taken off, and he is not alone, we are with him."
Idol worship: Pros and
cons
Q: What do you think of those crazy
fans?
Q: What makes a responsible
fan?
Xu Jingyi, 15, high school student
It's amazing that I am planning to do some crazy things at May
Day's concert. I intend to wait at their hotel - I used to think
this was crazy. Anyway, there are not many things you feel
passionate about.
A responsible fan is passionate for concerts, interactive
activities, etc. Buying the genuine CDs is a must.
Shu Qi, 21, university student
Once I was a "Nian Gao" (fans of Gao Yayuan, last year's "My
Show" contestant). I showed up wherever she went. I just wanted to
do something for her. My photo taken with Seven (Gao's English
name) even appears in her autobiography "Yuan Lai Shi Ni" ("It
Turns Out To Be You"). I felt so proud at that time.
But when I look back on those times, I think it's a little bit
crazy. If you really like her, buy her CDs. That's enough and
really good for her.
Dai Yiqing, 23, university student
Fans spare no efforts to come into close contact with their
idols: It's perfectly understandable. They usually buy genuine CDs,
which is the greatest recognition to the stars.
Good fans should be passionate and sensible. On one hand, follow
the whereabouts of their idols. On the other hand, don't splash
rumors about.
Lina Xia, 25, bank clerk
It's so crazy and sometimes mad, totally beyond my
understanding. The fans squander their parents' money. As to those
who cry their eyes out (at their idols' setbacks), I'm not sure
whether their hearts would be broken over the misfortunes of people
who are more closely related to them.
If you like him, buy the genuine CDs and invest more in the
charity activities initiated by your idol.
Yuan Yi, 30, IT engineer
Everything should be carried out in a proper way. It's the same
with idol worship. It's all right for the young people to be crazy
about their idols, however, this should not affect their normal
lives.
Keeping an eye on the whereabouts of idols is enough.
Ms Gao, 50, doctor
They are too crazy. There's no problem with adoration. But the
lack of reason should not be encouraged, for example, spending a
lot of money to buy everything related to the star.
A good fan doesn't necessarily scream out in the presence of
their idol. It is better to learn from idol's strong points to
correct their own weaknesses, discard the dross and select the
essential.
(Shanghai Daily September 27, 2007)
