Technology-Mediated Communication and Representations of Islam in Northwest China: Insights from Visual Postings on Weixin

Abstract

During the last few decades, Muslim communities in China have experienced a religious revival in which belonging to a global Muslim community has been a central element. At the same time, in recent years, the State’s campaign of Sinicization of Islam (yisilan zhongguohua) has supported Chinese nationalism and targeted symbols of Islam that are alleged to distance the believers from patriotism. This study explores the capacity for texts, language, and visual choices to build and shape sociality and forms of devotion and to reflect social and political changes. The research examines visual posting on the multipurpose app Weixin (WeChat), providing insights into local forms of religiousness, self-representation, and aspirational identities of part of the Muslim community in Xining (Qinghai province, Northwest China).

Smartphone as Ritual Fan

“…The situation changed with ethnographic works on how the portable internet through its various software and hardware infrastructure influences the lives of the majority Han population (Chen et al, 2018;de Seta & Proksell, 2015;Liu, 2017;McDonald, 2016;Plantin & de Seta, 2019;Wang, 2016;Zhao, 2017). Studies looking at similar topics, only considering various ethnic minorities, quickly followed suit (Cabras, 2022;He & Tan, 2020). In fact, they were behind the already established trend in academic work in the PRC, where a significant number of studies discussed how Weixin influences, strengthens, preserves, transmits, or reinvents minority cultures.…”