Curating 'Italian Summer': Algorithmic Aesthetics, Visual Micro-Tropes, and Narrative Agency on BookTok

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of short-form video platforms has transformed contemporary literary culture, shifting book discovery from traditional institutions to algorithmically governed spaces. Focusing on TikTok’s "BookTok" subculture, this study investigates how algorithmic curation constructs visual micro-aesthetics and reshapes readers' narrative agency. Using the ubiquitous "Italian Summer" motif, a micro-aesthetic inspired by Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name, as a primary case study, the research employs an interdisciplinary socio-technical framework combining digital ethnography, visual multimodal discourse analysis, and qualitative audience comment analysis (80 core videos, 1,200 user comments). The findings reveal that TikTok’s recommendation architecture actively incentivizes content creators to reduce complex literary narratives into standardized visual moodboards dominated by specific Mediterranean blue color palettes, eurocentric nostalgia, and atmospheric escapism to secure visibility on the For You Page. Consequently, audience engagement is heavily skewed toward "reading for the aesthetic," with 74.8% of analyzed comments prioritizing visual validation and performative identity over critical textual evaluation. This study demonstrates a fundamental transition from independent reader interpretation to human-algorithmic hybrid agency, wherein algorithmic systems standardize cultural taste and commodify literary artifacts. By examining these dynamics, the paper provides critical theoretical insights into platform capitalism and offers actionable recommendations for algorithmic governance, platform transparency, and critical media literacy, including the incorporation of critical algorithmic literacy into media education so readers can recognize how visual cues and recommendation systems shape literary choices.