Xingyue Dai is a second-year PhD student in Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Nanjing University and a Master’s degree in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research primarily focuses on Chinese audiences’ reception of international films, investigating how cultural tastes are shaped and constructed in the context of global media consumption.

Xingyue’s recent work draws on theories of taste and media consumption and employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Her current research examines Chinese audiences’ reception of American films, specifically exploring how cultural tastes for U.S. movies are formed. Through analyzing online commentary on Douban.com, a widely recognized Chinese film review platform, she identifies patterns and mechanisms that shape the appreciation and critique of American films among Chinese viewers. By understanding these dynamics, her research contributes to broader discussions on cross-cultural media reception and the global circulation of cultural products. Her dissertation project expands on her interest in film narratives by examining the socio-technical imaginaries of the future and humanity as portrayed in science fiction films. She is going to compare these imaginaries across different regions and historical periods, providing a nuanced understanding of how sci-fi cinema reflects diverse visions of technology, society, and human existence. This project involves a comparative analysis of sci-fi film narratives and their audience reviews, aiming to uncover how political, social, cultural and historical contexts may influence the construction of film narratives and audience interpretation.