The year of 2021 is called “the first year of metaverse.” With its intrinsic utopian and dystopian characteristics, the discourse of metaverse in China is entangled with the discourses of revolution, involution, scientism, monopoly, and decentralization, having wide implications for every aspect of social life. It prompts one to wonder whether “metaverse” would be another grand narrative after globalization that would fundamentally change the ways the world operates or how people perceive the world. This symposium will discuss the development of, and enthusiasm about, metaverse in China to explore its conceptual, historical, socio-economic, affective, and political significance.

Keynote speakers: Yomi Braester (University of Washington); Ban Wang (Stanford University)

Industry representatives: Luo Jinhai (CEO of Quantum School, Founder of Metaverse 2140); Chen Cao (research scientist in Reality Labs Meta, Meta)

Academic participants:
Mingwei Song (Wellesley) | Kun Qian (University of Pittsburgh) | Pu Wang (Brandeis University) | Huang Hua (Capital Normal University) | Song Shi (University of Pittsburgh) | Zhao Jing (University of International Business and Economics) | Liu Chunyi (Peking University) | David Warner (University of Pittsburgh)