Temporary Utopia: An Interview-Based Sociological Analysis of Youth's Psychological Experiences of Shanghai Halloween Carnival

Abstract

In a meritocratic society, the societal issue of young people's alienation crisis has received widespread attention, but there is still insufficient analysis of young people's psychological adjustment mechanisms in the face of pressure. This article conducts interviews that investigate how young people perceive and participate in the Shanghai Halloween Carnival to analyze their psychological needs and social problems they face. Research has found that carnival creates a free and inclusive environment for young people, promotes equal dialogue and genuine emotional expression, and strengthens emotional connections between individuals. Faced with social structural repression such as workplace involution, young people choose to use Halloween carnival as a metonymic expression of their needs, such as identity recognition. Based on this, it is recommended that the government and enterprises improve their support systems and pay attention to unemployment and labor rights. Young people should be guided to dialectically view online culture and avoid over-reliance on sarcastic expressions.