In the world of YouTube, the techniques of acceleration and repetition have moved beyond traditional video editing, and they have evolved into a distinct aesthetic form that has had a notable impact on emotional storytelling in the post-cinematic era. This influence is not only reflected in the creation of video content, but also into the emotional experience of the audience, thus changing people’s understanding of storytelling and emotional expression.

On the YouTube platform, acceleration is not just a time-saving device, it has become a narrative strategy. With quick clips and scene transitions, video creators can convey a lot of information in a very short time, creating a tight, efficient narrative style. At the same time, repetition plays an important role on YouTube. Unlike repetition in traditional media, repetition on YouTube is often creative and dramatic. Video creators enhance the message and emotional intensity by repeating certain key clips or concepts. This kind of repetition is not only for emphasis, but also as an artistic expression, which can leave a deep impression in the audience’s mind and trigger emotional resonance. For example, some music videos create a strong emotional atmosphere by repeating a particular melody or picture, allowing the audience to experience different levels of emotional change in the repetition.

Take accelerated, quick-cut videos on YouTube, Casey Neistat’s Vlogs – Casey Neistat is one of the best-known creators on YouTube, known for his unique style of quick-cut clips. His videos often contain quick scene cuts and tight narratives, providing viewers with a dynamic and engaging viewing experience. This style is different from the slow narrative in traditional movies, and it forces the audience to experience more emotional fluctuations in a short time.

On the other hand, repeats also play an important role on YouTube. Videos such as Bill Wurtz’s Brief History [2] create a unique sense of rhythm through repetitive visual and sound elements that are not just for entertainment, but for emotional reinforcement. It allows the audience to find familiarity in repetition, but also to generate new emotional experiences in constant repetition.

This YouTube-driven change in audiovisual language, as discussed by Manovich in The Language of New Media [3], has not only changed the way we consume media, but more profoundly affected our emotional responses. In this rapidly changing digital age, our emotions are also constantly being reshaped and accelerated.

This kind of repetition and acceleration aesthetics of YouTube is not only a new art form, but also a challenge and innovation to the emotional narrative mode in the post-film era. It makes us rethink how emotions are expressed and experienced in the digital age.

Reference：

Casey Neistat（2016）DO WHAT YOU CAN’T. [YouTube video].

Wurtz, B. (2016). History of the Entire World, I Guess. [YouTube video].

Manovich, L. (2001). The Language of New Media. MIT Press.

By：Yi Wang 33789183