The Shining Generation explores a uniquely Chinese subculture—“Fei Zhu Liu” (Non-Mainstream Culture). In China, “Fei Zhu Liu” is more than just a noun; it is also an adjective, describing a distinct subcultural phenomenon.
This movement primarily emerged among teenagers and young adults under 25 during the 2000s and early 2010s, often referred to as the “Post-80s and Post-90s Generation” (8090). Their formative years coincided with the rapid rise of the internet and computer science, shaping their identity and cultural expressions. The term has since been widely recognized in Chinese media and sociology.
《The Shining Generation》探索了中国自己的亚文化-非主流文化。在中国，非主流更多的是指一种亚文化现象，非主流即使名词，也是形容词。这样一个群体通常集中在2000-2010时期的青少年们以及25岁以下年轻人，也即所谓的8090一代。这代人的成长时期几乎同时和互联网/计算机科学的形成与高速发展时期相吻合。该术语在中国的媒体和社会学上也常被普遍运用。