Digital Humanities and Cultural Identification of Prefecture-Level Cities in China and Sustainable Development: A 3-Year Empirical Study (2021-2023) on Digital-Based Literary Narration in Short Videos

The advent of technology has revolutionized the methods by which modern citizens access information and engage in literary narration (through storytelling), transforming it into a multidimensional and intricately interwoven tapestry that encompasses various disciplines such as communications and media. As an exciting frontier of study, numerous scholars are dedicated to theoretical analyses within the realm of digital humanities, presenting vast opportunities for its practical application. This article explores the digital transformation of literary narration within the realm of short videos, which not only serves as a primary means of acquiring information (which engages with a large amount of demographic information) but also facilitates cultural identification with prefecture-level cities in China. The major cities enjoy the “say” in the media landscape; hence, seeking outlets in short videos (which do not need advanced infrastructure) serves as a “life-saving straw” for prefecture-level cities. The dominance of short videos in terms of extensive coverage surpasses that of print media, television, and other traditional media. This new form of literary narration incorporates elements such as pictures, animations, sound effects, and catering to diverse audience preferences and features the grand vitality of digital humanities. This article conducts comprehensive research from 2021 to 2023, aiming to unveil an innovative approach for the cultural identification of prefecture-level cities and the effectiveness of digital humanities applications with regard to literary transformation in the era of short video. Moreover, it endeavors to capture precise data directly from local residents, thereby assessing the efficacy of technology-based literary narration in short video creation and dissemination. Ultimately, these efforts aim to fortify the construction of prefecture-level cities against the challenges posed by metropolises. After 3 years of the experiment, we found that digitally transformed literary narration in short video helps the cultural identification of prefecture-level cities and brings cohesion to their citizens. Therefore, the survival of prefecture-level cities in China necessitates the “snatch” of opportunity for this new form of literary narration and sheds light on the further application of digital humanities.