Resume<\/p>\n
The War, the Victim, and the Dance: TikTok Videos on the Russia\u2013Ukraine Conflict and the Dancification of War<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Alp Cenk Arslan, Assistant Professor, Ankara, T\u00fcrkiye<\/p>\n Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n This study examines the \u201cdancification\u201d of the Russia\u2013Ukraine conflict on TikTok, where dance trends emerge from war zone accounts and reshape war communication. It argues that this phenomenon redefines news-sharing, transforms perceived conflict reality, and situates young users\u2019 war news consumption within an entertainment-centered frame. Using a qualitative semiotic approach, the study analyzes a purposive sample of 20 TikTok videos featuring dancing soldiers, posted between February 2022 and July 2023, and examines their visual, auditory, performative, and textual signs. Findings suggest that TikTok\u2019s audio-visual affordances can reproduce even concrete realities such as war through entertaining platform dynamics.<\/p>\n