The Art of Glitch | Off Book | PBS Digital Studios

Glitches are the frustrating byproduct of technology gone awry. Wildly scrambled images, frozen blue screens, and garbled sounds signify moments where we want to throw our expensive computer products out the window. Many artists and programmers, however, have embraced these crisis moments and discovered beauty in the glitch. By hacking familiar systems, they intentionally cause glitches, and manipulate them to create art. Enjoying the aesthetics of technological mistakes defies the notion that technology and entertainment has to be a seamless experience. Most importantly, glitch artists reveal a certain soulfulness that emerges when complex streams of information, visual media, and our own lives converge in the chaos of the glitch.

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[Iconology]

I love glitch art and find all this stuff very inspiring. I definitely want to find out more and give it a go! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought glitchy billboards and travel boards were cool!

[ryanali]

In case anyone was wondering what the song/music at 1:32 is: the artist is "Professor Kliq" and the song is "Pangea".

[thescowlingschnauzer]

Yeah, I'm also reminded of traditional patterned textiles, especially fractal patterns in African design. Tho glitch feels more organic because it's not perfect patterns. You take something organic and then generate patterns from it, which makes it a very interesting nexus of art and math. Keep at it!

[soCCTViety]

one of first glitch-art i have ever seen was made on VHS and was based on errors that happen during re-recording movie [data] many times, and i think VHS tape was first medium that allowed to consciously glitch visual information

[SimonHutchinson]

Great discussions of the "why" of glitch art here, and everyone is having so much fun!

[radnerdtv]

I love that you made a video on this topic. You guys get it.

[InfiniteRadiiEdge]

I remembered when the phone glitched and merged shots into one image. I'd use magnets around computers just to see some effects.

[StrayMedicine]

I'm really glad that they have Chris Cunningham's stuff slightly involved with this.
I'm talking about the scenes from 'All is Full of Love' glitched a bit.

[RothMobot]

A nice little quick doc. They left out Glitch's grandparents, circuit bending, and hardware hacking. Also they left out a couple very important points. 1) Anyone can do it -- one doesn't need to know anything about electronics to get started. 2) BATTERY POWERED DEVICES ONLY -- This documentary left me with the feeling that I could pop open a TV and get started.... DO NOT OPEN A TELEVISION unless you absolutely know how to "discharge the CRT capacitor" -- you know, the one that can kill you.

[MakoEducationUK]

Great video, we are going to use this in our workshop to help explain glitch art to young artists we are working with.

[rmeddy]

The spandrel effect of art is the where the real power lies

[bedhed]

words cannot express how much i love this video

[apolojpg]

What a nice wholesome vídeo, love it :D
damn 12 years ago
the golden age

[redbeard]

Had no idea this was even a thing. Taking some code out of a file is really really easy to do.

[liwowoli]

Awesome video. It was a lot of fun to watch, and there were a lot of really cool ideas.

Although, the discussion of switching file types makes me wish you could type "me making out with a supermodel" in a .txt file, then open that .txt file as a .jpeg, and there's a picture of me making out with a supermodel.

[RothMobot]

That's sort of my point. These MAJOR safety issues should ALWAYS be included in documentaries of this type. By "this type" I mean interesting, inspiring, motivating examples of modern folk art. But typical "modern folk" don't know that some devices are extremely dangerous to tinker with, even LCD or LED devices if they are plugged in. I know that -- you know that -- but you'd be surprised how many people don't know that. Safety first, right?

[RothMobot]

CRTs (i.e. Cathode Ray Tubes -- old school television monitors) are fine for "displaying" glitch, and what have you. But NEVER open one up and poke around inside unless you know what you're doing. There is a "super cap" inside CRTs that can hold a charge long after the television has been turned off, and even unplugged. Discharged under the wrong circumstances (i.e., across your heart) it can kill you.

[holdmybeer]

I like how adult swim uses glitch art.

This is how some of the best electronic music came about.

[amsob]

First track:
Henrik José - Energy Is For Henrik