VVEBCAM by Petra Cortright

The important work of software-badsed art was recorded on webcam by Post-Internet artist Petra Cortright is in the collection of MoMA, where it was part of the 2020 gallery of the collection, “Search Engines.” This seminal digital artwork explores the interface of self-presentation and digital manipulation. Departing from traditional video art and selfie-culture, Cortright presents herself impassively before a webcam, interacting with floating clip art that occasionally obscures her face. Originally crafted for YouTube, VVEBCAM subverts viewer expectations cultivated by the platform’s search and comment functions. By embedding keywords related to erotic or controversial content, Cortright manipulated viewer engagement, turning an artistic video into a critique of online voyeurism and the unexpected disruptions of digital culture.