Andy Warhol’s time capsules are both artistic expressions and cultural archives, highlighting how he transformed mundane objects into reflections of memory, time, and consumer culture. Inspired by Warhol’s integration of life and art, the author proposes a modern “digital time capsule” to document viral social media events from December 2024 to May 2025. This project aims to preserve key moments shaped by globalization and digitalization, such as the potential banning of TikTok, as cultural artifacts. It serves not only as a historical record but also as a critical examination of how technology, politics, and society intersect in the digital age.
×
×
#TiktokRefugee
TikTokRefugee describes U.S. TikTok users migrating to other platforms—particularly China’s Xiaohongshu—in anticipation of a potential TikTok ban driven by national security legislation. This shift is fueled by content creators’ need to preserve their audiences and digital presence. While some view the move as strategic, others see it as a form of resistance to digital censorship. Ironically, users are transitioning from one Chinese-owned app to another, navigating new cultural norms and digital ecosystems. This phenomenon underscores the deep interconnection between global tech politics and individual user behavior, revealing how social media platforms have become arenas of geopolitical and ideological contestation.
×
×
#AI Video Generate
The iPod Classic 7th Generation, released in 2007, marked the final evolution of Apple’s iconic hard drive-based music player. Equipped with a massive 160GB of storage, a 2.5-inch color LCD display, and the familiar click wheel, it allowed users to carry tens of thousands of songs in their pocket — an unmatched experience at the time. Unlike later streaming-focused devices, the iPod Classic was all about ownership: your collection, your music, offline and uninterrupted. Its brushed aluminum faceplate and polished stainless steel back gave it a sleek, durable feel, while its long battery life made it a trusted travel companion. Even after its discontinuation in 2014, the iPod Classic remains beloved among music enthusiasts and collectors, symbolizing the golden age of digital music libraries and Apple’s minimalist design ethos.
×
×
#Virtual Idol
The virtual idol industry has seen significant global growth, especially in China, Japan, and North America. In China alone, the industry's output reached around 1.3 billion yuan (approximately $181 million) by 2022, with a major expansion phase between 2011 and 2019. This growth is driven by fans deeply immersed in ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) culture, many of whom display a “2D Complex”—a deep emotional attachment to fictional characters. Virtual idols resonate strongly with this audience, blending technology with fandom to create immersive entertainment experiences.
×
×
#Deepseek
China’s AI tool DeepSeek has recently gained international attention, quickly topping the U.S. app store charts and even surpassing ChatGPT in popularity. Its rapid success is attributed to its strong performance—matching ChatGPT in many areas and excelling in Chinese-language tasks with more precise, less generic responses. What sets DeepSeek apart is its bold open-source approach, making its model architecture and code publicly available. This move not only showcases confidence but also lowers the barrier to entry for smaller enterprises, fueling innovation. DeepSeek’s rise highlights China’s growing presence in the global AI landscape and its challenge to Western tech dominance.
×
×
#OtakuCulture
Otaku culture has undergone changes, raising concerns about aesthetic decline, identity loss, and commercialization. Once known for refined artistry, it now leans toward mass-produced, “moe”-focused designs driven by political correctness and market appeal. This shift has led to dominance of childlike visuals over artistic depth. Meanwhile, the tight-knit otaku community has become mainstream, attracting casual fans and weakening its sense of identity. Economic factors have fueled this transformation, encouraging homogenized, profit-driven content over creativity.
×
×
#NeZha2
Nezha 2, set for release in 2025, is a fully Chinese production, marking a significant shift in the country’s animation industry. Over the past decade, Chinese animated films have seen rapid growth, with Nezha 2 grossing over $2.3 billion domestically by March 2025. Its success, bolstered by state-backed promotion and strategic release during the Chinese New Year, aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s values, reflecting both artistic progress and the use
×
×
#VRExhibition
This project explores the “spatial turn” in AR/VR exhibition design, examining how new technologies blur the lines between physical and virtual spaces. As an international student in the U.S., I see this shift extending beyond museums to digital, geopolitical, and cultural spaces we engage with daily. Recent events, such as the U.S. TikTok ban, the rise of DeepSeek, and the success of a Chinese animated film, highlight how digital space becomes a battleground for national identity and technological influence. Through curating 12 AR/VR works, I aim to document these changes and reflect on my own position within them, using immersive design to challenge dominant perspectives and foster cross-cultural dialogue.
×
×
#FemaleUsers
REDnote has attracted many TikTok users due to its unique identity as a female-dominated platform, which fosters a warm, inclusive, and emotionally connected environment. Unlike other platforms, where male-dominated cultures can feel hostile, Xiaohongshu’s “sisterhood” culture promotes harmony and emotional safety. This female-led community has been key in making users feel welcome, particularly those from Russia, who have found a rare sense of security and empathy on the platform. The platform’s success is not just about its design but about the kindness, sincerity, and trust cultivated through female engagement, making it stand out from other social media platforms.
×
×
#Tariffs
This article reflects on the theatrical and erratic nature of Trump’s tariff policies. Intended as a rational policy analysis, it instead became an account of chaos, reversals, and emotional performance. The author questions whether media are reporting reality or becoming part of a political spectacle, where unpredictability is the new norm. As tariffs shift repeatedly and officials contradict each other, the focus moves from policy substance to the rhythm of disorder. In this performative statecraft, even the writer's role becomes uncertain—trapped in a cycle of constant revision and instability.
×
×
#Culture differences
This book explores how the term #culture different serves as a vital lens for understanding the complex digital tensions between China and the U.S. Far beyond cultural misunderstanding, it reflects shifting power, identity, and technological influence. Events like TikTok’s ban attempt, the rise of Chinese AI, and Xiaohongshu’s global appeal illustrate deeper struggles over digital sovereignty and soft power. As an international student, the author offers both analysis and personal insight, arguing that in a fragmented, globalized world, grasping #culture different is essential to decoding today’s digital politics and cultural transformation.
