Messing up with the Facebook codes is what Laimonas Zakas calls internet performance art, and it is evident in his project Glitchr.
Glitchr is a Page on Facebook that purposely deforms the Facebook interface using various diacritics or marks that alter the sound of a letter when pronounced. Zakas is able to combine and produce random groups of Unicode characters when one clicks on any link in the Facebook Page a number of times. “These symbols, intruding up and down, are made by combining lots of diacritical marks. Yes, It’s a kind of art. There’s quite a lot of artists who use the Internet or specific social networks as their canvas,” says Zakas. Another example of an online Unicode art would be the Zalgo meme.
The Concept Behind Glitchr
The concept behind Glitchr is both simple and complex. By using diacritical marks, Zakas creates a visual disruption that challenges the conventional use of social media platforms. This form of digital art is not just about aesthetics; it’s about questioning the norms and functionalities of the platforms we use daily. The use of Unicode characters to create these glitches is a testament to the flexibility and limitations of digital text. Unicode, a computing industry standard for consistent encoding, representation, and handling of text, allows for a wide range of characters from different languages and symbols. By exploiting this, Zakas turns a mundane Facebook page into a canvas for his art.
Impact and Reception
While others might see Glitchr as a form of protest art against Facebook’s continuous world domination by breaking its code, Zakas points out that Facebook might be probably using Glitchr to check for bugs. “Don’t know how much truth is there, but by now, the following bugs, that I have used in my posts, were fixed: Embedding animated pictures in notes, sharing animated pictures in thumbnails, unlimited extension of text in the post to the right side and some others.” This statement highlights an interesting dynamic between the artist and the platform. On one hand, Zakas is using Facebook as a medium for his art, and on the other hand, Facebook might be benefiting from his work by identifying and fixing bugs.
The reception of Glitchr has been varied. Some see it as a brilliant form of digital art that pushes the boundaries of what is possible on social media platforms. Others view it as a nuisance or a form of digital vandalism. Regardless of the perspective, Glitchr has sparked conversations about the role of social media in our lives and how it can be used in unconventional ways.
Moreover, Glitchr has inspired other artists and developers to explore the possibilities of digital art on social media platforms. The project has shown that even the most rigid and controlled environments can be transformed into spaces for creativity and expression. This has led to a broader discussion about the potential of digital art and its place in the modern art world.
In conclusion, Glitchr is more than just a Facebook page with random Unicode characters. It is a thought-provoking project that challenges our perceptions of social media and digital art. By using diacritical marks to create visual disruptions, Laimonas Zakas has turned a simple Facebook page into a powerful statement about the flexibility and limitations of digital text. Whether seen as a form of protest, a tool for identifying bugs, or a piece of digital art, Glitchr has made a significant impact on the way we think about social media and its potential for creativity.
via Rhizome/TechCrunch
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