This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of their oeuvre, media strategies, and reception across platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, museum circuits, and academic conferences). Using a mixed‑methods approach—content analysis of 120 minutes of video work, semi‑structured interviews (n = 12), and discourse analysis of online commentaries—the study reveals how both creators negotiate authenticity, audience engagement, and institutional validation. Findings suggest that while Jane’s work thrives on immediacy and participatory activism, Polanski’s installations prioritize embodied temporality and archival reclamation. Their intersecting trajectories illuminate broader shifts in digital cultural production, especially concerning gendered labor, transnational identity formation, and the politics of platform‑mediated visibility.

The article concludes with a set of theoretical propositions for future scholarship on hybrid media practices and offers practical recommendations for curators and platform designers seeking to support emergent, intersectional creators.

Are they the future of alternative cool? Honestly, they might be too interesting for the mainstream. And that’s exactly why we love them.

(selected, APA 7th edition)

: Their joint visibility highlights a broader trend among modern models who bypass traditional agency representation, utilizing mainstream platforms like TikTok as promotional funnels for private, monetization-driven content hubs.