I Glitch, Therefore I am
The word “glitch” has a negative connotation in the context of most conversations. In the context of Glitch Art, glitch means nothing but a very strategic way of altering — or even destroying — digital media in order change its original intended message. Glitch artists make modifications to media in order to create critical design that communicates a message we can relate to our reality of natural distortions.
As a novice “glitch artist,” I chose a picture that I took a few weeks ago after a run along the lake and decided to glitch it by adding René Decartes’ famous quote “Je pense donc je suis” — “I think therefore I am” in English.
This phrase has been tattoed in my heart since I heard it. To me, this quote does not argue the notion of existance as it was originally debated in 1644. This quote is a motivational thought that I am the person I want to be and reminds me that my self-perception can shape who I am, my goals, and even how others see me. This phrase stresses that if I can think of myself as person that achieves a certain thing, I can be that person; so why not dream big?
In order to visualize the power of this quote, I opened “my selfie” using TextEdit — instead of the default preview application — and inserted the phrase into the document of the code that computers use to translate pictures into visual images.
I started by adding the phrase in blank spaces thought out the document. I wanted the right amount of order and disorder in my image, so I was sure not to intervene with the code too much. This resulted in slight glitch of my original image. This reminds me that not enough “thinking” or “being the change you want to be” can lead to little few changes in life.
My second variation included more disruption of the original code. I figured that as the ambitious individual I am, I should add this phrase numerous times throughout the code to see glorious results; but I learned that too much modification can lead to chaos. During this alteration, I actually replaced some of the text in the code with the phrase, as well as inserting the phrase in empty spaces throughout the text. The result was a total mess! Darker colors emerged, the imaged was much more distorted, and I could barely see my face. I could barely tell that I was in the picture. This image represents how Decartes’ quote could potentially lead me to failure thorough overconfidence and I could lose the foundations of who I am as a person.
The third time, I reflected on how I could use the values in Descartes’ quote to achieve a successful glitch art variation. I thought: “Maybe I’m being consumed by my ambition. Maybe I have lost who I am in the process and perhaps I should be more strategic with my endeavors.” This time, I placed the phrase in empty spaces — symbolising that I should look for the spaces where I can grow — and where I deleted text to replace with the phrase, I did so without deleting too much of the ground text that still makes the picture an image of me. The result was success!
When I look at this variation, I see exactly what I wanted to communicate by incorporating Descartes’ quote into the code. First, I see an intact foundation of me in the image; which is something I want to keep. I have met people who simply lose themselves as they progress through their lives and I strive to be a man who cares for my roots and what I have lived. As a foundation, you can easily identify my face. The very top of the image was — somehow — not altered and the letters of my name on my necklace are still legible. Success! I have maintained my identity as a person.
Moreover, there is a copy of my face to the right where there original image is found and throughout the image I see slight changes in colors, shape, and texture. This symbolizes the transition of who I can be and the evolution and changes of environment throughout the journey.
Glitch art, as its own unique form of art, it can be very complex. Before working on this exercise, I though of it as a simple mistake or error in the code, but now I can see how a glitch can be an altering element that completely changes the meaning of media. Moreover, I see the impact that glitch can have depending where it is found, and how it can lead to handsome refinements or hideous settlements.
