Oddly satisfying videosareinternet videosthat portray repetitive events or actions that viewers find pleasing. Common subjects includedomino shows,parlor tricks,[1]slime,pressure washing,hydraulic presses,[2]scrap metal shredders,soap cutting and paint mixing.[3]They are viewed as forms ofescapismorASMR.[3][2]
The term "oddly satisfying video" emerged on theinternet forumRedditafter the /r/oddlysatisfyingsubredditwas established in 2013.[3]The label is now widespread ononline video platformssuch asYouTubeandInstagram.[1]Wired UKcalled slime, a common feature of these videos, the "biggest DIY trend of 2017, even causing a national shortage of glue in the US".[3]In 2021,The Guardianwrote that "the pandemic, coupled with an increasingly chaotic news cycle, has us striving towards the ultimate #smoothbrain state – meaning there’s a global audience regularly seeking out the oddly satisfying, and a huge wave of content creators actively manufacturing it".
The appeal of oddly satisfying videos is thought to lie in the human preference for symmetry, patterns and repetition, the interest of exploring the behavior of materials,[1]or hand movements.[3]It may be related to theautonomous sensory meridian response,a pleasant tingling sensation in the neck and scalp.[1][3]Evan Malone, a professor of art and film philosophy, theorized that the appeal may lie in their portrayal ofeveryday experiencesas cinematic and, inBaudrillard's words, "hyper-real".[3]The effect of watching such videos has been described as a "brain massage" or "lightlyhypnotizing",[1]and as a form of psychologicalself-careto help overcome stress or anxiety.[1][3]The satisfaction derived may have to do withmirror neurons,which fire when one performs a motion or watches someone else perform a motion.[3]
References
edit- ^abcdefMatchar, Emily (22 February 2019)."Finding What's 'Oddly Satisfying' on the Internet".The New York Times.Retrieved24 February2019.
- ^ab"Hypnotic loops and self-soothing sounds: the rise of #OddlySatisfying and visual ASMR".the Guardian.2021-03-30.Retrieved2022-04-09.
- ^abcdefghiFaramarzi, Sabrina (11 April 2018)."The odd psychology behind oddly satisfying slime videos".Wired UK.Retrieved24 February2019.
External links
edit- /r/oddlysatisfyingon Reddit