Investigating Viral Cultural Events

Design a research program to study the rise, spread, and impact of viral cultural events, such as surprise book readings, pop-up performances, or other crowd-driven cultural moments. Outline criteria to validate claims of virality beyond social metrics, methods to measure audience engagement across platforms and real-world participation, and approaches to assess long-term influence on cultural participation. Include ethical considerations, data sources, and a cross-city comparative framework. Propose a plan for collaboration among researchers, event organizers, and policy makers to translate findings into more transparent, inclusive, and sustainable cultural ecosystems.