Literary Theory and Cultural Practice of “Metaverse” in China

The concept of the "metaverse" has triggered extensive discussions across various fields in China, leading to a significant increase in the number of articles related to this topic in 2022. In general, Chinese scholars in the humanities exhibit two divergent inclinations when it comes to the concept of "metaverse." Some tend to metaphysicise or de-metaphysicise it, while others aim to contextualise it through a Chinese lens or decontextualise it from the perspective of the Chinese language and culture (i.e. Chinese-style understanding/de-Chinese-contextualisation). Given that the "metaverse" is a completely new concept pointing to the future, Chinese scholars are limited to utilising existing theoretical resources to analyze artistic issues related to the "metaverse." They primarily focus on three aspects: interaction and immersion technologies, body–subject relations, and narrative. However, their analyses often suffer from the problem of misusing literary theory, akin to putting old wine in new bottles. Currently, "metaverse" creative cultural projects in China mainly centre on digital collectibles, virtual digital humans, and immersive experiences in tourism. However, these artifacts encounter intense challenges, including the inefficient utilisation of digital cultural capital, the rigid replication of content, an overemphasis on simulacra, and a lack of emphasis on conveying cultural values.