Glitch: Will It Ever Be the Same?

 Glitch: Will It Ever Be the Same?

digital .gif, photo paper, transparency paper








Artist Statement:


“The poor image...builds alliances as it travels, provokes translation or mistranslation, and creates new publics and debates. By losing its visual substance it recovers some of its political punch and creates a new aura around it” 

-- In Defense of the Poor Image by Hito Steyerl

Just as Steyerl described in her article, through my project I wanted to add a level of discussion and thought to rather mundane images of nigh walks I had previously been on. Through glitching these images, I can add a level of meaning and completely change the ‘aura’ around these seemingly peaceful images.


‘Will It Ever Be the Same?’ discusses night walks and drives which I normally take to clear my mind and unwind after a long week or stressful day. After moving here, I have been constantly told by my parents, friends, and those around me how dangerous it is to walk alone at night and to stop my habit. By glitching the images I am able to dissect both the tranquil side of walking alone as well as the dangers a girl may face in the darkness.


The series of images progressed from my night walks in peaceful safe areas to more dangerous spaces where I had to call my brother. The glitched phone screen refers to the uncertainty and lack of help in such situations (and the fact that we have to rely on others to be safe). The train glitch specifically references the rail on which a woman was recently sexually assaulted on a rail line while bystanders did nothing to help. Glitches going back and forth show the two sides to things we use daily. To create these glitches, I inputted the random thoughts or the lyrics to songs I often jam out to while I am out. For example, in the glitch of a street outside Penn, I wrote, “MY SHOULDER HURTS” around 15 times.


The presentation of the images on the floor symbolizes how we often look at the ground when in fear. Especially when walking, more specifically walking away from something, we look at the ground and try to not be perceived.




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