People addicted to short videos share similarities with goldfish. Both have gradually had their physiological structures and behavioral patterns altered. Those immersed in short videos are like domesticated goldfish. I use goldfish as a visual metaphor to express that people who are addicted to short videos are showing a tendency to be domesticated by short videos. This project uses a series of works including video, sculpture, zine, and flipbook to prompt viewers to reflect on how social media control people and their own addictive behavior toward these platforms.
Xi Yang
How do humans transform into fish?
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Project description
In Chinese, the words for "fish" (鱼) and "foolish" (愚) all have the same pronunciation, "yu." The Chinese pronunciation of 'yu' (鱼/愚) is similar to the English word 'you'.
Additionally, there is a Chinese idiom, "大鱼弱智" (dàyú ruòzhì), where "鱼" (yú) is "fish." The idiom describes someone who appears smart but is foolish. This is similar to how users seem to choose the content they want to see on social media, but in reality, that content is controlled by algorithms. The act of choosing may seem autonomous and intelligent, but it's actually foolish. We addicted to social media is like being a goldfish in a fish tank.
Zine
Size: 100 x 200 mm
Sculpture
Size: 310 x 130 x 70 mm
Flipbook
Size: 80 x 150 mm
Social media exacerbates polarization. We often see votes on social media asking whether you support the red or blue side. When viewers flip through the book, choosing a color is like choosing a viewpoint, but regardless of the choice, they will become fish. The upward flipping motion of the book mimics the upward scrolling effect of social media, and just as social media content is repetitive, the stories in the book are cyclical.
Xi Yang
How do humans transform into fish?
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