Queering the translation: unveiling Chinese fansubbed homosexuality in Queer as Folk

Abstract

This thesis examines the Chinese fansubbing of Queer as Folk through the lens of feminist and queer translation theories, exploring how fansubbers navigate linguistic and cultural challenges in translating queer content. By analyzing translation strategies, the study investigates how fansubbing contributes to the formation and activation of queer identities among Chinese audiences, emphasizing its subversive potential in challenging heteronormative hegemonies in China. The research employs back translation to identify key translation differences, revealing the complexities involved in conveying queer language and identities in a socio-political context that often marginalizes LGBTQ+ expressions. Furthermore, the thesis situates fansubbing as a form of queer screen activism, highlighting its role in fostering public discourse on sexuality and gender diversity. Ultimately, this study positions fansubbing as not only a translation practice but also a communal and activist endeavor that reshapes cultural understandings of queerness in China.