ASM-What? A Reflection

Sensory media has become a recent phenomenon and recognised characteristic of online screen production. Autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR videos have become increasingly popular in recent years. ASMR is an experience of a tingling sensation triggered by a specific sensory stimulus. Most commonly, ASMR videos focus on auditory and visual sensations. For our practical test, we decided to explore this new field of sensory media and create an ASMR inspired video. We decided to focus on the auditory aspect of ASMR, and attempt to create a screen production that triggered an ASMR response.

Creating ASMR is interesting, as it is specifically catered for a niche audience. It is created for the purpose of triggering a specific response. The internet has become a landscape for diversity and creativity, it has allowed for niche communities to form and thrive through online media production. It was therefore interesting to conduct our test and think of ways to produce sound that would trigger an ASMR response and appeal to the niche ASMR audience. However, while ASMR is highly specific and niche, I have also come to realise that it can be extremely diverse. There are no restrictions in terms of length, some ASMR producers create short videos while others create forty minute videos- I have even come across a continuous live stream of ASMR. Moreover, the ways in which the videos can be produced is also variant. There are a large number of ASMR inducing triggers that can be explored through creating an ASMR video, from whispers to tapping.

Creating the ASMR inspired video furthered my understanding of diverse relationships between content producers and audiences, as fostered by the internet. ASMR videos are highly influenced by audience interaction. Throughout the making process I felt as though I had more of the audience in mind than I usually would when creating content. I felt more of a connection to the audience in the way of questioning if the sounds we were creating would actually appeal to an established ASMR audience. Producing this video has allowed me to further understand content production catered for a highly specific audience. It makes me wonder if online screen production will become more specific and audience driven with time or if niche content such as ASMR will become obsolete?