PetTube Animals, devenir-character and becoming a story: Characterization and storytelling of animals in Youtube

Abstract

PetTube is new kind of contents created with the progression of digital media. Pets are re-created in PetTube as a member of the community and a special being with own individuality and identity. Based on the tendency of portraying animals, this research analyzed the process of characterization and storytelling of animals on PetTube. Character semiotics and ‘Devenir-’ theory of Gilles Deleuze and Pierre-Féix Guattari was used as methods to interpret how animals are described in Youtube channels. Animal is the core of PetTube. Animals are described as a humanlike being and constantly form a relation with internal and external elements of the video. Former is ‘devenir-character’, which makes animals deviate from the fixed form of ‘animal’. Animals become character by associating language and consciousness to the animal’s appearance. Latter is storytelling of Ritornello, which is done through five patterns of interaction: with human, animal, object, oneself and perspective. Repetition of action and reaction of animals within the interaction forms devenir-character’s intrinsic domain. This paper has pioneering significance in PetTube research area for analyzing contents based on character and storytelling. Although the animal had become the main source of contents for a long time on Youtube, the research related to PetTube is still insufficient. It provides an implication to the contents researchers. This research can be the trigger and an indicator for follow-up researchers to diversify the topic related to PetTube and animal contents.