Rewriting Chineseness: Chinese American films through Chinese eyes

This study investigates how Chinese nationalism and diasporic media theories shape Douban reviews of Chinese American films and TV shows. I conducted a thematic analysis of 120 Douban reviews for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), American Born Chinese (2023), and Interior Chinatown (2024). The goal was to understand how mainland Chinese users react to Chinese identity representations in these works. I examined whether reviewers embraced the diaspora as part of Chinese cultural sphere or rejected it. The central question was: How do Douban reviewers perceive Chinese American media representations of Chinese identities, and what do their reviews reveal about their views on the Chinese diaspora? The analysis showed polarized views. Some reviews, aligning with nationalist narratives, criticized recurring stereotypes and limited portrayals. Conversely, others celebrated hybrid identities and the global reach of Chinese American experiences.