Omeka Link: http://jessicadoeshistory.com/cnd/exhibits/show/tracy-and-the-glitch/tracy
I chose this image for several reasons. The first being that comics and visual storytellers have had a profound and forward effect on western culture since the 1930’s. Comics truly have become integral to almost every form of pop culture. The 1930’s was many things, poor, hard, and adverse. the times seemed like bleak days were ahead, but underneath all the chaos a theme of movement perpetuated the chaos of the times.1 Of all the storytelling techniques comics are the most movement based and movement invigorated. Comics take this subtle theme of the times and brings it into the lower art world. This particular comic was published at the end of The New Deal.2 There is no reason to read a comic if there’s no movement. This particular comic Dick Tracy was about a detective by that name, and inside this bit of the story elements of social norms are clearly seen. The lady in the expensive fur coat is seen calling people fools even though there is little back story to her character there is a set of assumptions to her character. This comic was aimed at the popular audience, and that means appealing to popular stereotypes. Then as it turns out she is in fact the shooter in a guise to take advantage of stereotypes to get away from the detective.
From the glitching process we are able to think more critically about the role of movement and sacrifice in the minds of historians. The glitching erased the unnecessary ad, but also interrupted the movement of the story. The movement paced itself at a high level, giving the reader a sense of true adventure and excitement. But the glitch removed the true experience from that. Then the glitch also erased the name of the comic. What we cut out of history may take what we need with it.
Sometimes when we study history we ignore certain things, like an ad. But whether or not we see it, analyze it, or incorporate it doesn’t determine whether its necessary to the project or not. When we consider history we must consider all of history, the good, the bad, the ugly. We cannot pick and chose, because what we cut out of history may take what we need with it. I found the glitching process interesting, because I only saw what I wanted to see. I wanted to be done with the interrupting ad, but how I value this change is totally dependent on me. Someone might look at it and say that the glitch is ridding the historian of an incredibly important bit of information, like the introduction of an ad. However, because I’m looking at it from a value of movement perspective I get annoyed at the ad for interrupting the flow. Glitching is important in the perspective of a visual aid in the story of history, but dangerous in the perspective of historical analysis. 3
