Materiality and media memory: The practical application and meaning construction of the tape recorder in China in 1980s

This study examines the significance of tape recorders as media objects in China during the 1980s. It examines how the tape recorder's multifaceted impact influenced society through its panmedia applications and interactions. During this period, tape recorders held numerous symbolic meanings, reflecting economic power, social status, auditory freedom, and cultural changes. These devices reshaped family culture, served as practical gifts for social events, and disrupted traditional norms to forge new relationships. This study integrates social practices related to tape recorders into media materiality research, revealing the media object's influence on human subjectivity and social perceptions in the context of societal transformations and media-related technological advancements. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the hidden significance of tape recorders as media artifacts in China during the 1980s.