Exploring Creative Expression on TikTok During COVID-19 Pandemic in Albania
摘要
Tik Tok, the short form of video sharing platform, turned out to be the most popular social network in the world that served as a means of entertainment during the Covid-19 pandemic even in Albania. Except for challenges in producing Tik Tok videos, including imitations, music, dances, jokes and games, there were also creators, mostly young generations who used this platform as a form of expression of their artistic creativity by addressing social, economic and political issues in this virtual space. The aim of this paper is to analyse the videos produced by the newsroom of Tik Tok Corruption, part of the “MediaLook” Centre in Albania. During a seven-month period from May 1–November 30, 2020, there were created 366 videos covering a wide range of themes on education, economic crisis, earthquake’s aftermath, urban infrastructure, etc. The Tik Tok videos were published on the platform and had a significant number of followers; and some of them were shared and discussed in linear and online media. This study employs a qualitative and quantitative method aimed at examining Tik Tok video productions. The preliminary findings indicate that Tik Tokers face some difficulties to express criticism through the visual rhetoric. This revealed also defects of the education system that does not give to the young generation contemporary knowledge on the culture of multimedia storytelling.