The performative filename as social contract When a filename asserts identity and rarity, it invites interaction. Recipients infer intent: is this a leak, a curated release, or an inside joke? The sender performs a social contract, promising something special. Recipients reciprocate through sharing, commentary, or silence. The lifecycle of such a file — uploaded, streamed, mirrored, forgotten, or litigated — illustrates networked culture’s rapid alternation between hype and neglect.