Chinese subtitle groups and the neoliberal work ethic

This paper is dedicated to the anonymous heroes and heroines toiling away for Chinese subtitle groups.¹ Most of them are based in mainland China, but a few can be found in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Chinesespeaking communities around the world. These fansubbers volunteer to convert non-Chinese audio-visual programs into digital versions with Chinese subtitles and then circulate and make them available for download worldwide through Internet forums, blogs, and websites. The collective enthusiasm and passion demonstrated by the Chinese subtitle groups has enabled the Chinese all over the world to gain quick access to the latest audio-visual materials. The emergence of these fansubbers, and the popularity of their online Chinese-subtitled versions, indicates that, particularly for the younger Chinese generation in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong immersed in the information society, the Internet has replaced fixed-schedule television programming as the trendiest and most convenient viewing platform. Moreover, the digital versions of programs available on the Internet in China give viewers the flexibility to move easily between the computer and the living room television set, thanks to the development of software and hardware that make files and TV-compatible (Life Week 2006).