ABSTRACT
There has always been an intimate connection between visual text and nationalism. Visual symbols, for example, territory maps, national totems, and leaders’ images, become essential resources for the establishment of territory boundaries, collective identity, and social mobilization of the imagined community. In contemporary China, nationalism and identity politics have been core issues entangled with China’s modernity. Traditional research on nationalism has focused on influence from nations, governments, and elites. Nationalism is used by elites as a tool to actuate the public, achieve national independence, enhance the legitimacy of their regime, or set public agendas. Treating cyber-nationalism as a kind of narrative discourse includes information flow, topic discussion, identity construction, and action organization of nationalism. Most research concentrated on textual discourse while ignoring visual expression. Visual expression has long been an essential part of China’s nationalism. During revolutionary times, visual publicity like woodcuts and posters became a crucial method to motivate people and eliminate illiterates.
