The Birth of the “Internet Hippies”: Chinese Youth Subculture in the Perspective of Mirror Theory

• 발행기관: 아시아사회과학학회
• 저자명: Wei Peng Zhichao Cao
• 간행물 정보: 『Journal of Asia Social Science』Vol.13 No.2, 13~19쪽, 전체 7쪽
• 주제분류: 사회과학 > 사회과학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.06.30

국문 초록

This study employs Lacan’s mirror theory to analyze the subcultural practices of “cyber hippies” within China’s digital landscape. By comparing the 1960s American hippie movement, it reveals how contemporary Chinese youth construct idealized rebellious identities through digital symbols such as “cyber hippies”. By comparing the 1960s American hippie movement, it reveals how contemporary Chinese youth construct idealized rebellious identities through digital symbols such as by comparing the 1960s American hippie movement, it reveals how contemporary Chinese youth construct idealized rebellious identities through digital symbols such as memes and ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) culture. The “mirror-self” in virtual space serves as a symbolic resistance against mainstream cultural repression, exemplified by the deconstruction of symbolic violence (e.g., “996 work ethic”) through tactics like parody videos and abstract slang. Lacan’s tripartite theory (the Real, the Imaginary, the Symbolic) further demonstrates that such rebellion remains entangled in the signifying chain of the Symbolic Lacan’s tripartite theory (the Real, the Imaginary, the Symbolic) further demonstrates that such rebellion remains entangled in the signifying chain of the Symbolic order: the pursuit of an “ideal self” constitutes a misrecognition of the “Big Other,” while the Oedipal impulse to subvert paternal authority evolves into a Sisyphean cycle of desire-where rebellion aims not at systemic overthrow but at sustaining The study warns of the risks of subjective dissolution and social disembedding inherent in this “ The study warns of the risks of subjective dissolution and social disembedding inherent in this “ lucid indulgence.” It advocates for guiding youth subcultures to transcend mirror-stage illusions and foster constructive dialogue between virtual. It advocates for guiding youth subcultures to transcend mirror-stage illusions and foster constructive dialogue between virtual and real worlds, thereby opening pathways for cultural innovation in the digital era.

목차

Introductory

1. Hippie spirituality: a typical representative of youth subculture

2. “Internet Hippies”: The “Mirror Me” of Chinese Youth Subculture

3 Digital symbols: strategic expression of “cyberhippy” rebellion

4 The invisibility of the subject: reflections on the phenomenon of “cyber hippies”

5. Summary

References

키워드

Adolescent Subculture Hippies Lacanian Mirror Theory Rebellion