DIGITAL RITUALS AND EVERYDAY NARRATIVES: A VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF SHORT-FORM VIDEO CULTURE
DIGITAL RITUALS AND EVERYDAY NARRATIVES: A VISUAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF SHORT-FORM VIDEO CULTURE

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines how short-form video platforms transform everyday routines into recognizable narrative and visual patterns. Through qualitative content analysis of 21 videos from TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, this pilot study identifies how compressed sequences of action become procedural micro-narratives. These videos rely on minimal cues of setup, shift, and closure, reinforced by visual grammars and culturally coded symbols that ensure legibility at feed speed. The analysis shows how repetition and template use function as digital rituals that both reflect and standardize everyday storytelling. By combining narratology, semiotics, and digital anthropology, the study contributes to understanding how short-form platforms not only distribute content but also actively shape cultural expression and identity. Methodologically, the adoption of the micro-narrative as a unit of analysis enables comparison across languages and platforms, while also highlighting the influence of algorithmic curation on sample formation. The findings open paths for future research using larger datasets and mixed methods, offering insights into how platforms shape the forms and rhythms of everyday narratives over time.

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