“Stefania” for Identity, Affinity, and Disruption: The Role of Sound in TikTok War Activism

This article examines the role of sound in war-related activism on TikTok by thematically analysing TikTok clips featuring the Ukrainian song “Stefania” by the Kalush Orchestra. The theoretical framework draws from social media, activism, nationalism and sound studies. From the analysis, four wider themes emerged. Firstly, the sound was utilized to express national identity by re-emphasizing and expanding on the patriotic themes present in the song. Secondly, the song was combined with diegetic (actual) sound to amplify the material’s affective impact and to foster affinity and resilience during challenging times, such as war. Thirdly, as the content spreads across the platform, controlling its use becomes challenging, which allowed Russian social media users to appropriate “Stefania” and contest Ukrainian narratives. Lastly, the sound functioned as a hack for visibility, with the aim of reaching broader imagined audiences. It is important to note that the sound on TikTok is not monolithic – there were uses of diegetic and non-diegetic sound and their layering, and these uses of sound served different functions. Keywords: TikTok, sound, digital activism, Russo-Ukrainian War, identity building, affect