ABSTRACT
“Geng” is an important part of cyberspace discourse, and a highly charged form of popular culture. This article takes the phenomenal costume drama The Legend of Zhenhuan as an example, through textual analysis to dig out the frequency, themes and discourse style of Internet “geng” from this drama, study and analyse them from the perspectives of mimesis theory, carnival theory, fandom theory and subculture to explore the symptoms of the era, and give critical discussions and reflections. Zhenhuan Geng as a line “geng”, has its own characteristics. “Geng” mostly revolve around daily issues, and have the function of deconstructing serious issues. The extensive use of powerful “geng” represented by Zhenhuan Geng in the Internet space is the result of netizens’ emotions, which is the process of symbiosis and identity recognition. The symbolic and stylized content of “geng” culture is also the mild resistance of subculture to mainstream culture and values.
