The return of the “virtual subject” to reality: the new cultural transformation of the concept of “idol” in the context of video games

Research Article
Open access

The return of the “virtual subject” to reality: the new cultural transformation of the concept of “idol” in the context of video games

Kangkaixin Wang 1*
  • 1 School of Arts, Nankai University, Tianjin, China    
  • *corresponding author wkkx1784236514@gmail.com
AHR Vol.12 Issue 2
ISSN (Print): 2753-7099
ISSN (Online): 2753-7080

Abstract

The concept of “idol” in the context of mass culture, first proposed by Leo Loventhal, has undergone continuous changes with the ongoing development of the cultural field. In recent years, the well-established concept of “idol” has been reinvigorated in large multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), leading to new cultural phenomena. The difference lies in the fact that traditional “produced idols” and “consumed idols” exist in the real-world cultural field, where they ultimately result in a vision-based concealment that masks individuals within the cultural audience; whereas the creation of “fictional idols” in the context of video games results in a vision-based concealment confined to the interaction field of the virtual world. On this basis, players are able to examine their true existence in the real world, leading to outcomes of resistance and self-education within the real cultural field.

Keywords:

idol, MMORPG, mass culture, virtual subject, interaction field

Wang,K. (2025). The return of the “virtual subject” to reality: the new cultural transformation of the concept of “idol” in the context of video games. Advances in Humanities Research,12(2),72-77.
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References

[1]. Levant, L. (2012). Literature, popular culture, and society (G. Fan, Trans.). China Renmin University Press. (Original work published 2012). p. 152.

[2]. Horkheimer, M., & Adorno, T. W. (2006). Dialectic of enlightenment (J. D. Qu, & W. D. Cao, Trans.). Shanghai People’s Publishing House. p. 140.

[3]. Marcuse, H. (1989). One-dimensional man: Studies in the ideology of advanced industrial society (J. Liu, Trans.). Shanghai Yiwang Publishing House. p. 78.

[4]. Hegel, G. W. F. (2002). Encyclopedia of the philosophical sciences (H. Xue, Trans.). Shanghai People’s Publishing House. pp. 43-44.

[5]. Allen, G. (2021). Intertextuality (3rd ed.). Routledge. London https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003223795

[6]. Fu, X. W. (2020). Symbolic interaction and the construction of meaning in World of Warcraft (Master’s thesis, Hebei Normal University).

[7]. Gadamer, H.-G. (1987). Truth and method: Fundamental features of philosophical hermeneutics (C. Y. Wang, Trans.). Liaoning People’s Publishing House. pp. 100-101.

[8]. Heidegger, M. (2018). The origin of the work of art. In Z. X. Sun (Trans.), In the forest road (p. 69). Commercial Press.

[9]. Zhou, Z. Q. (2010). From “entertainment” to “silly joy”: The depoliticization of Chinese mass culture. Journal of Tianjin Normal University (Social Sciences Edition), 2010(4).

Cite this article

Wang,K. (2025). The return of the “virtual subject” to reality: the new cultural transformation of the concept of “idol” in the context of video games. Advances in Humanities Research,12(2),72-77.

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About volume

Journal：Advances in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.12
Issue number: Issue 2
ISSN：2753-7080(Print) / 2753-7099(Online)

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References

[1]. Levant, L. (2012). Literature, popular culture, and society (G. Fan, Trans.). China Renmin University Press. (Original work published 2012). p. 152.

[2]. Horkheimer, M., & Adorno, T. W. (2006). Dialectic of enlightenment (J. D. Qu, & W. D. Cao, Trans.). Shanghai People’s Publishing House. p. 140.

[3]. Marcuse, H. (1989). One-dimensional man: Studies in the ideology of advanced industrial society (J. Liu, Trans.). Shanghai Yiwang Publishing House. p. 78.

[4]. Hegel, G. W. F. (2002). Encyclopedia of the philosophical sciences (H. Xue, Trans.). Shanghai People’s Publishing House. pp. 43-44.

[5]. Allen, G. (2021). Intertextuality (3rd ed.). Routledge. London https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003223795

[6]. Fu, X. W. (2020). Symbolic interaction and the construction of meaning in World of Warcraft (Master’s thesis, Hebei Normal University).

[7]. Gadamer, H.-G. (1987). Truth and method: Fundamental features of philosophical hermeneutics (C. Y. Wang, Trans.). Liaoning People’s Publishing House. pp. 100-101.

[8]. Heidegger, M. (2018). The origin of the work of art. In Z. X. Sun (Trans.), In the forest road (p. 69). Commercial Press.

[9]. Zhou, Z. Q. (2010). From “entertainment” to “silly joy”: The depoliticization of Chinese mass culture. Journal of Tianjin Normal University (Social Sciences Edition), 2010(4).

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