DH187 Capstone: ASMR

Constructing intimacy through sound in ASMR

Capstone project for DH 187: Radio & Data course at UCLA

  • About Our Project

    Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory experience characterized by a physical tingling sensation, often triggered by specific auditory stimuli, that induces deep relaxation and euphoria.

    With the rise of digital media in the mid-2000s, ASMR became popularized and developed into a distinct form of content creation. Since then, ASMR has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon, with millions of listeners and content creators engaging with it for its therapeutic benefits and entertainment. 

    For this reason, we believe ASMR serves as a unique lens through which we can examine sound as a socially and technologically mediated experience. We explore how intimate auditory practices have evolved through its psychological and sensory appeal, its historic role within culture and commercialization, and the ways digital media has shaped the production and consumption of ASMR. We argue modern-day ASMR is a reflection of how audio evolved historically and shaped by the affordances and constraints of digital media to form an immersive and intimate sensory experience.

    Our research seeks to answer the following:

    Why has ASMR become such a large internet phenomenon?

    How does ASMR reflect historical auditory traditions?

    Our findings are based on scholarly research on ASMR’s psychological effects, cultural significance, and technological influences, as well as a case study of an ASMR audio track from the creator Goodnight Moon to analyze how specific auditory techniques contribute to the unique qualities of ASMR. Through this analysis, we hope to educate and provide a deeper understanding of ASMR soundscapes.