Cross-Cultural Communication
Mediated Dreams, Lived Realities: A Cross-Cultural Grounded Theory Study of Chongqing’s Image Construction among German Residents
Abstract
In an increasingly interconnected yet polarized global landscape, this study critically investigates how German residents in Chongqing, China, cognitively construct perceptions of the city’s image. Employing a constructivist grounded theory, we analyzed in-depth interview data from 17 German residents, triangulated with online public data. Findings reveal a dynamic transition from an initial, online-mediated, symbolically charged “conceptual Chongqing” to an offline, sensorially-engaged “perceived Chongqing.” Online exposure, characterized by prominent visual symbols (e.g., nightscapes, hot pot), simplifies the image, fostering initial impressions. This symbolic cognition, however, often leads to cognitive capture by aestheticized narratives, potentially reinforcing stereotypes. Conversely, offline experiences, involving multi-sensory engagement and direct social interactions, profoundly enrich perceptions, rendering the image vivid and nuanced. Critical points of cognitive dissonance arise where idealized online symbols clash with complex offline realities, prompting emotional fluctuations and perceptual recalibration. This dialectic highlights how mediated representational logics are culturally embodied and negotiated through lived experience, foregrounding active audience roles in critically re-negotiating ‘Other’ representations within a complex intercultural landscape. The study proposes a novel theoretical model of cross-cultural image construction, offering insights into how global narratives, power dynamics, and situated cultural interpretations dynamically converge in shaping place perception in the digital age.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/13802
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