ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the fans at the individual level. The loosely organised, dispersive and private individual fans in offline life. In the offline life, the fans are more like consumers. An offline public sphere for consumers exists but the collective identity of fans is seldom activated or exhibited. The commitment to a given subcultural, consumer culture or popular culture identity no longer exists because of the rapid shift from one style, products or idols to another. The chapter discusses the general characteristics of fans in reality from the author's interviews and fieldwork experience. There are several types of face-to-face interaction among Chinese fans in reality. Concerts, fan meetings, exhibitions and festivals offer such opportunities. Not only do fans share the same interests in a small circle but also conflicts in an intimate circle of classmates and family members. The author's discourse on "rationality" includes behaving properly in public, maintaining social order and keeping a balanced emotional outlook.
