The inspiration behind this project was a series of conversations regarding the nature of digital preservation and the concept of impermanence. Life is, without exception, transient. From that understanding arises fear, anxiety, determination, and the sense of beauty and wonder. As we progress through the digital age it is natural that people attempt to preserve life through digital means. Uploading content and saving information gives humans the feeling that they are preserving and saving aspect of themselves. This project attempts to show that the parts of ourselves we digitally upload are just as impermanent and delicate as our physical selves. Each component of this piece was filmed on a DSLR and uploaded onto a computer. Once the file existed on the computer, it was opened using a hex editor, allowing manipulation and destruction of the code of the video file. The manipulated code itself is shown on the right side of the composition. The code was then opened as an audio file and further manipulated. The waveform of that audio representation of the video file is presented across the top of the composition. Once the information was altered, destroyed, and reorganized it was reformatted as a video file creating the effect seen in the video itself. The process shows how easy it is to manipulate and destroy the "DNA" of digital files, that they are just as fickle and temporary as life itself.
The inspiration behind this project was a series of conversations regarding the nature of digital preservation and the concept of impermanence. Life is, without exception, transient. From that understanding arises fear, anxiety, determination, and the sense of beauty and wonder. As we progress through the digital age it is natural that people attempt to preserve life through digital means. Uploading content and saving information gives humans the feeling that they are preserving and saving aspect of themselves. This project attempts to show that the parts of ourselves we digitally upload are just as impermanent and delicate as our physical selves. Each component of this piece was filmed on a DSLR and uploaded onto a computer. Once the file existed on the computer, it was opened using a hex editor, allowing manipulation and destruction of the code of the video file. The manipulated code itself is shown on the right side of the composition. The code was then opened as an audio file and further manipulated. The waveform of that audio representation of the video file is presented across the top of the composition. Once the information was altered, destroyed, and reorganized it was reformatted as a video file creating the effect seen in the video itself. The process shows how easy it is to manipulate and destroy the "DNA" of digital files, that they are just as fickle and temporary as life itself.
The inspiration behind this project was a series of conversations regarding the nature of digital preservation and the concept of impermanence. Life is, without exception, transient. From that understanding arises fear, anxiety, determination, and the sense of beauty and wonder. As we progress through the digital age it is natural that people attempt to preserve life through digital means. Uploading content and saving information gives humans the feeling that they are preserving and saving aspect of themselves. This project attempts to show that the parts of ourselves we digitally upload are just as impermanent and delicate as our physical selves. Each component of this piece was filmed on a DSLR and uploaded onto a computer. Once the file existed on the computer, it was opened using a hex editor, allowing manipulation and destruction of the code of the video file. The manipulated code itself is shown on the right side of the composition. The code was then opened as an audio file and further manipulated. The waveform of that audio representation of the video file is presented across the top of the composition. Once the information was altered, destroyed, and reorganized it was reformatted as a video file creating the effect seen in the video itself. The process shows how easy it is to manipulate and destroy the "DNA" of digital files, that they are just as fickle and temporary as life itself.
The inspiration behind this project was a series of conversations regarding the nature of digital preservation and the concept of impermanence. Life is, without exception, transient. From that understanding arises fear, anxiety, determination, and the sense of beauty and wonder. As we progress through the digital age it is natural that people attempt to preserve life through digital means. Uploading content and saving information gives humans the feeling that they are preserving and saving aspect of themselves. This project attempts to show that the parts of ourselves we digitally upload are just as impermanent and delicate as our physical selves. Each component of this piece was filmed on a DSLR and uploaded onto a computer. Once the file existed on the computer, it was opened using a hex editor, allowing manipulation and destruction of the code of the video file. The manipulated code itself is shown on the right side of the composition. The code was then opened as an audio file and further manipulated. The waveform of that audio representation of the video file is presented across the top of the composition. Once the information was altered, destroyed, and reorganized it was reformatted as a video file creating the effect seen in the video itself. The process shows how easy it is to manipulate and destroy the "DNA" of digital files, that they are just as fickle and temporary as life itself.