GLITCH SPACE

Personal space is defined as the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs. That space can vary between individuals, groups, and even cultures. The psychologist Robert Sommer noted that individuals who find themselves in forced close proximity to others will compensate for the intrusion into their personal space by viewing those around them as "inanimate" - dehumanizing them.

As more of our social interactions occur online and through the veil of technology the concept of personal space has changed. The inherent ease of apparent anonymity has escalated the act of dehumanization. This process, however, is no longer reserved solely for others. With startling frequency individuals have begun to dehumanize themselves online, by way of objectification and broadcast of one's own sexuality, often displayed as parts of the whole, rather than as a cohesive entity.

GLITCH SPACE explores the increasing preference of today's youth culture to share more and more of what was once considered deeply personal and even intimate through unexpected channels. Is this happening in part because of the false safety online anonymity offers? Or as physical interaction wanes are compensations being made to replace the feedback of actual contact? In a world of relationships formed through the glowing light of the computer screen, is this hypersexualization and objectification of one's self the incoming generation's new drug? Or simply their calling card?

In part, the works presented here, were created and inspired by the corruption of digital data files. In many cases the grey bar of dataloss represents an updated take on the classic black censorship bar.