On Friday the 26th of June Resonance FM will be broadcasting a programme produced by Ego-Media’s Dr Rob Gallagher in collaboration with The Arts and Culture Unit and YouTubers Whispers Red and Muted Vocal, both of whom produce videos designed to trigger ‘Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response’ – a term that’s emerged from online health communities to describe a ‘tingling’ sensation certain people seem to experience in response to particular sensory stimuli and audiovisual cues.
In recent years numerous ‘ASMRtists’ have begun using platforms like YouTube to circulate roleplays, readings and performances all designed to elicit these mysterious tingles, and Dr Gallagher has been researching this culture as an example of how genres, ideas and communities emerge online. Over the course of the show he will discuss current academic thinking on how the internet is changing understandings of identity, health, creativity and belonging, and see whether the terms and concepts scholars are developing ring true for those involved with emerging web cultures.
The show will be going out at 11am and should be available to download as a podcast soon after. Be sure to tune in – you may even feel the odd tingle…
