The Glitch in Digital Humanity

1. Amanda Carlson
5//12/2017
Media Theory
The Glitch in Digital Humanity
Searching for reality in digital creations in many ways is an oxymoron. Our media alone
is based on more media. The hyperreality of our world and our culture makes the basis of
reality even less feasible. What is our reality?
Where does the digital human fit in with our perception? My art piece on this topic will
reflect this. The digital human flaws in many ways is in the perfection the computer uses to
calculate lighting and color. Can imperfection be added to suite reality or is this digital output
still too perfect? This perfection in the outcome is the unintended effect of the use of the
computer. Unintended effects are typically referred to as a glitch. This glitch will be visibly
shown and hidden in my project.
The topic of uncanny has be used and represented in many different formats. It typically
isn’t a desired effect. However, it is the purpose of my project. I will explore the uncanny
through the use of a cgi robotic human. I will use the same mode and figure to create a change.
This change will show the uncanny robotic human to a much more realistic but as a uncanny
human. During this stage a video glitch will occur. I’ve learned through my studies that the
uncanny has a duality. As Freud has said,
”These themes are all concerned with the phenomenon of the 'double', which
appears in every shape and in every degree of development. “1
Uncanny as a tool of semiotics can have significantly different meanings. However, the main
commonality is the feeling behind it, the unease that one has when viewing an object of the
1
​Freud, Sigmund. "The 'uncanny'." Trans. Alix Strachey. (1925)

2. uncanny. This unease will be shown and heard. Uncanny sounds of nature and reality will be
distorted and placed with my video. The effect should be subtle but interesting and complex.
It will be interesting to see the effect of the uncanny and hyperreality used as a basis of
my video. Will my uncanny robot be seen as more real or will the human like version? What
does it tell the audience and the artist ?