China’s Media Image in the Russian Social Networks Based on Posts and Comments about Chinese Popular Music

The article reconstructs the media image of China based on social network discussions about Chinese pop music. As a new medium, social networks reflect the mutual socio-cultural interest of Russia and China. The author describes the concept of national media image in media linguistics and intercultural communication using China News. EKD, a public page in the VKontakte social network. The methods of media linguistics, cultural linguistics, axiology, and linguistic analysis helped to reveal the main themes in the image of China: musical genres; musicians and singers, their popularity in China and abroad; authors' opinions; commentators' opinions; non-verbal means. The research also revealed linguistic and non-linguistic means that establish Chinese pop music as part of the musical and performing arts. China appears as a country with a well-developed modern musical and performing culture, popular both in China and abroad.