Jade Rush: Materiali ty, Mistrust, and the Livestreaming Jadeite Trade
Digitalisation has changed the jadeite trade between Myanmar and Chin a. Valuing of the rare mineral however still relies on personal judgm ent, Shaohua Xiang shows.
“The value of jadeite can� ��t be easily standardised. Prices are not fixed or objective. Becaus e the stones are difficult to measure precisely, people rely on their senses, especially sight and touch, and shared trading practices to decide what they are worth. My study helps explain why trust, experti se and mediation remain important even in this highly digitalised tra de.
Livestreaming
“My research is moti vated by an interest in how digital technologies intersect with long- standing trading practices. Over several years I conducted long-term qualitative fieldwork, in which I explored how traders, livestreamers and platforms evaluate, present and assess jadeite in both physical markets and online livestreaming environments.
“I demonstrate that livestreaming has not replaced traditional trading practices or markets, but has adapted and extended them into a digital environmen t in which personal mediation remains essential. While new technologi es make trading more accessible, uncertainty and trust remain central . In this sense, digital platforms change how jadeite is traded, but not the basic challenges involved in valuing it.”
More inform ation on the thesis
DESCRIPTION: Jade Rush: Materiality, Mistrust, and the Livestreaming J adeite Trade Digitalisation has changed the jadeite trade bet ween Myanmar and China. Valuing of the rare mineral however still rel ies on personal judgment, Shaohua Xiang shows.“The value o f jadeite can’t be easily standardised. Prices are not fixed or obj ective. Because the stones are difficult to measure precisely, people rely on their senses, especially sight and touch, and shared trading practices to decide what they are worth. My study helps explain why trust, expertise and mediation remain important even in this highly d igitalised trade.Livestreaming“My research is moti vated by an interest in how digital technologies intersect with long- standing trading practices. Over several years I conducted long-term qualitative fieldwork, in which I explored how traders, livestreamers and platforms evaluate, present and assess jadeite in both physical markets and online livestreaming environments.“I demonstrate that l ivestreaming has not replaced traditional trading practices or market s, but has adapted and extended them into a digital environment in wh ich personal mediation remains essential. While new technologies make trading more accessible, uncertainty and trust remain central. In th is sense, digital platforms change how jadeite is traded, but not the basic challenges involved in valuing it.”More information on the < a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/abcde119-f2fb-48c5-95da-cb6563c 278e5" data-new-window="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferre r">thesis END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR