avtales

Avtales is a term used to describe short, self-contained audiovisual narratives that combine moving images, sound, and text to tell a story. The label is not standardized and its meaning varies across communities; it is often used as an umbrella for micro-narratives created for online sharing.

Origins: The concept arose with the rise of consumer video editing tools and networked media, where creators mix footage, voiceover, music, and typography into compact pieces.

Characteristics: typically brief, usually one idea or moment; strong emphasis on visual storytelling; audio design can be central; may employ first-person narration or documentary style; may be animated, live-action, or mixed media.

Formats and platforms: includes animated shorts, montage reels, lyric videos, photo-essays with narration, and screen-captured storytelling; distributed via video platforms and social networks.

Reception and theory: scholars position avtales within multimodal storytelling, participatory culture, and media ecology; critics note the ease of production lowers entry barriers but also raises issues around copyright, originality, and misinformation.

See also: multimedia storytelling, microfilm, short-form video.