What is the glitch effect and how is it used in art and video?

The glitch effect refers to visual distortions that mimic digital or analog errors -scrambled pixels, color channel separation, scan lines, and data corruption artifacts. In art and video, these effects transform clean imagery into something raw, chaotic, and visually compelling.

Video artists use glitch effects to create music videos, experimental films, and visual performances. Common techniques include RGB splitting (separating color channels), VHS distortion emulation, and datamoshing for fluid motion trails. These effects evoke nostalgia for older media while making distinctly contemporary statements.

In static art, glitch effects appear in digital paintings, photo manipulation, and generative art. The aesthetic has influenced graphic design, album covers, and fashion. Its popularity stems from the tension between our expectation of pristine digital imagery and the reality of technological failure -a visual language that feels authentically digital.