Month: February 2025

CISA-Week 1

When I was first asked to come up with a practice-research question, one idea immediately came to mind: the Tuhai-derived culture. Before short-video platforms became mainstream, back when I was still in middle school, my favorite place on the internet was Bilibili—often described as the Chinese equivalent of YouTube. But Bilibili is much more than that. It is deeply embedded in niche subcultures, attracting users of all ages and interests.

It might sound odd, but apart from my peers, my dad is also a huge fan of Bilibili. One of his favorite series is a bizarre documentary where a man cooks rare, even borderline illegal, ingredients for his local community. On the other hand, one of my long-abandoned dreams was to become a Bilibili uploader (commonly known as “UP主”) specializing in a uniquely Chinese video genre: Guichu (鬼畜).

Guichu, literally translated as “ghostly livestock,” is a remix genre that originated on Bilibili. It features rapid-fire edits, pitch-shifted speech, rhythmic repetition, and absurdist humor. The genre draws heavily from Japanese MAD (Music Anime Douga) culture, where fans remix existing media into stylized, music-video-like formats. On Bilibili, Guichu videos are not only comedic but often function as satire and political commentary, capturing the platform’s countercultural spirit.

Unlike YouTube, Bilibili is famous for its danmu (弹幕)—real-time, user-generated comments that scroll across the screen as the video plays. This feature creates a collective viewing experience, as if you’re watching the video live with thousands of others. It transforms passive watching into an active, communal event, making the humor and reactions feel more immediate and shared.

One of my favorite Guichu videos comes from a creator I used to follow religiously. Unfortunately, due to the language barrier and the highly contextual humor, non-Chinese speakers (and even some native speakers) often struggle to understand the jokes. Yet that’s part of what makes it so special—the blend of cultural specificity, remix aesthetics, and community-driven creativity.

【【高能Rap】你从未看过的家有儿女】 https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1fs411t7EK/?share_source=copy_web&vd_source=64cf0bbbe19e5dbc407cface6e4090a9

Collaborating 1

As the collaborative unit begins, I’m still in the process of choosing my final direction. The course offers three possible pathways: Sound Design for Screen, Accessible Instrument Design, and an Independent Interdisciplinary Project. At this stage, my preferences are leaning toward the first path—Sound Design for Screen, followed by the Independent Interdisciplinary route, and finally, Accessible Instrument Design.

My strongest interest lies in sound design for games, particularly the creative and technical challenge of crafting audio that reacts to player behavior. While traditional sound design often involves placing static clips at key narrative moments, I’m more drawn to the dynamic and interactive potential of sound in games. This approach blends creativity with logic, and I’d like to explore how sound can evolve in real time, depending on gameplay states, player location, or interactions.

To support this, I see this project as an opportunity to expand my programming skills, especially in audio middleware or directly within game engines like Unity. Working beyond simple sample-based playback and into real-time systems could help me create more immersive and emotionally responsive experiences.

Although Sound Design for Screen is my current favorite, I’m also considering the Independent Interdisciplinary Project as a flexible alternative. If I manage to find a proper collaborator—perhaps one that connects sound design with narrative systems, interaction design, or installation—I may follow that route instead.

At the moment, Accessible Instrument Design is the least aligned with my personal interests and skill set, but I still appreciate its social value and may revisit it if an inspiring concept emerges.

Overall, Week 1 has been about reflection and strategic alignment—thinking carefully about how to match my passion for interactive sound with a meaningful and manageable project. In the coming week, I plan to test a few small prototypes and see which direction holds the most creative and technical potential.