The Artistic Editing of Ambient Sound and the Construction of Emotional Tension in Urban Vlogs

Abstract

This paper explores the aesthetic, emotional, and narrative roles of ambient sound in urban vlogs, situating this practice within broader East Asian media cultures and global soundscape theory. Through a multi-faceted analysis that integrates case studies, cross-cultural comparison, and theoretical synthesis, the study reveals how vloggers in China transform everyday soundscapes—such as the clatter of street vendors, the murmur of public spaces, and the textures of weather—into immersive emotional experiences. Ambient sound is not merely a background element in these vlogs; it functions as a powerful narrative device that shapes viewer engagement, evokes nostalgia, and constructs sensory spaces that bridge individual memory and collective identity. Drawing upon frameworks from soundscape theory, emotional geography, and multimodal narrative, the paper demonstrates how ambient sound editing in vlogs reflects a unique form of sonic poetics: a blending of cultural memory, personal storytelling, and aesthetic curation that extends beyond visual storytelling alone. The analysis highlights the participatory dynamic of audience reception, showing how viewers interpret, respond to, and emotionally connect with these curated soundscapes. Ultimately, the study positions ambient sound in vlogs as a key site for understanding contemporary digital storytelling, emotional engagement, and the evolving relationship between sound, space, and culture.