digital media

Bilingual

The Orality Theory of Everything
2 months ago
- The orality theory of everything, based on Walter Ong and Marshall McLuhan, argues that the shift from oral to literate communication restructured human consciousness, and the decline of reading and rise of social media is again transforming thinking.
- Literacy enabled abstract thought, solitude, and linear thinking, while digital orality brings back features of oral culture: conversational, viral, memorable, with heavy characters and malleable history.
- In politics, figures like Donald Trump use epithets and heavy character styles reminiscent of oral traditions, while media theorists like Meyrowitz predicted loss of trust in experts and a 'no sense of place' due to electronic media.
- AI chatbots are conversational but not agonistic, potentially representing a return to interiority similar to literacy, contrasting with the competitive nature of social media.
- The article emphasizes the value of studying early media theorists to understand contemporary digital culture and its pathologies.
The Kids' Guide to Piracy
2 months ago
- The article is a guide to torrenting for kids who grew up with streaming, with a disclaimer that it's intended for public domain media only.
- Torrenting involves downloading files from other users while simultaneously uploading to them, and requires a torrent client like qBittorrent (Windows) or Transmission (Mac/Linux).
- Users search for torrents on trackers like 1337x.to, choose files with high seeders for faster downloads, and add them via magnet links or URLs.
- Files download to the default Downloads folder, and once complete, can be opened with a media player like VLC; users are encouraged to seed (upload) before removing the torrent.
- Tips include using VPN to hide torrenting from ISPs, searching by season/episode codes, and prioritizing resolution over other technical details.
Dopamine TV: How China's short dramas are redefining entertainment
3 months ago
- Short dramas in China have exploded in popularity, with around 215 million people spending over an hour daily watching them, forming a market worth over 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion) in 2025.
- These dramas, often 1-2 minutes per episode, are consumed via apps like Hongguo and Fanqie, using free-with-ads or subscription models, and are easily discovered on social media platforms such as Douyin and RedNote.
- Short dramas often subvert traditional genres, as seen in 'Don't Mess with a Chubby Empress,' featuring a feisty, independent empress who rejects royal norms, resonating with modern audiences and garnering millions of views.
- They rely on formulaic structures with hooks within the first three seconds, plot twists, and cliffhangers, drawing from web novel tropes like time travel, revenge, and romance to deliver intense emotional payoffs.
- Initially popular in mid-sized cities with underdog protagonists, short dramas have expanded to big cities and white-collar workers, evolving to include more nuanced character development and subtle acting, as in hits like 'Midsummer Fendra.'
- Audience feedback is immediate via analytics and comments, influencing content; scenes are designed for maximum engagement, such as romantic escalations, and platforms like Tencent Video allow playback speed adjustments based on character preferences.
- AI video generation is fueling growth, with 122,000 AI-generated short dramas released in Q1 2026, reducing costs and enabling new genres, including action scenes for male audiences and expansion into overseas markets with English versions.
- Short dramas face lighter censorship compared to traditional TV, allowing bolder content, but regulations since May 2025 require reviews for high-budget productions, with platforms removing thousands for issues like 'bad values' or plagiarism.
- The appeal lies in the 'shuang' (dopamine hit) of gratifying resolutions, such as protagonists overcoming bullies, offering catharsis and wish fulfillment, though viewers also critique their predictability and lack of intellectual challenge.
The Death of the Creator Middle Class
3 months ago
- The creator economy is growing, but income inequality is worsening, with top creators taking most of the earnings.
- Brands skip mid-tier creators in favor of big names or cheap micro creators, squeezing the middle class.
- AI tools like Google's AI Overviews reduce traffic to content sources, harming writers and bloggers who rely on search.
- Platform algorithms reward extreme content, such as outrage or drama, burying steady, thoughtful work.
- The median creator earnings are declining despite overall growth, indicating a shrinking middle class.
- Trust and long-form content remain strengths for the middle, but reliance on a single platform is risky.

digital media

The Orality Theory of Everything

The Kids' Guide to Piracy

Dopamine TV: How China's short dramas are redefining entertainment

The Death of the Creator Middle Class