Cat meme videos have become a phenomenon on Chinese social media platforms. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Feline frenzy
Cat memes have been popular worldwide for decades, but recently, cat meme videos have taken Chinese social media platforms by storm. These short clips often weave engaging narratives using adorable cat memes, sometimes blending in well-known dog or human memes.
On Feb 29, a single mother from Japan, who had been living in China for years, uploaded a lighthearted cat meme video about her evolving perspectives of the country.
Her account quickly gained traction as her followers grew from zero to 356,000 on Chinese video platform Bilibili. Since then, a growing number of people, many with little to no video editing experience, have started creating similar content.
On Douyin, the Chinese version of Tik-Tok, the cat meme hashtag has received over 70 million views. People make these videos to share both joyful moments as well as painful memories, which usually prompt other internet users to leave comments of encouragement while also sharing similar experiences.
The "cat meme narrative", with its distinct and captivating nature, caters to people's desire for a quick emotional resonance.
"We can find solace and bits of laughter in these videos, both through the stories themselves and the inclusion of those adorable furry cats," wrote a young Chinese netizen.
The ornate wood panel featured in the 1997 film Titanic was recently auctioned for $718,750. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Cinematic treasures
"I'll never let go. I promise," uttered Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, while floating on an ornate wood panel.
The very panel on which the actress lay was recently auctioned for a total of $718,750 in Dallas, United States.
According to a news release from Heritage Auctions, the five-day event brought in $15.7 million across almost 1,600 lots. The wood panel, pivotal in the farewell scene of Jack and Rose, claimed the highest bid.
Many of the most coveted lots were props from Titanic, including the ship's helm wheel (sold for $200,000), Rose's waterlogged chiffon dress ($118,750), and the ship's brass engine order telegraph ($81,250).
Other notable expensive movie props in history include Darth Vader's mask and helmet from The Empire Strikes Back (1980), which fetched over $1 million including the premium in 2019, and Audrey Hepburn's dress from My Fair Lady (1964), sold for $3.7 million in 2011.
Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, highlighted the growing interest among collectors in films from the 1980s and 1990s. "Collectors are finally rewarding these artifacts as what they are: cultural artifacts akin to the fine art of old," he said in a statement, according to NPR.
