Week 3: Robotics and Art

Although it may not seem like it, robotics and art are certainly correlated. As described in the intro lecture video, beginning with the industrialization of the U.S., technology began to rapidly advance and changed the lives of humans in society in many ways. Many people believe that the advancement of many new technologies and the shift of daily tasks and activities from manual to automatic processes has a negative impact on art. German author and cultural critic, Walter Benjamin, mentions a similar idea in his book titled The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Benjamin mentions that there is a shift in the perception of art as film and photography advance in the twentieth century. 

There is a shift in the way people perceive, create, and appreciate art as a result of the industrialization. For example, with the advancement of photography and cameras, we are able to use computers to mass-produce photos taken by a camera, which reduces the artistic value. Many people believe that even though cameras can create detailed pictures with a single click, it is still not a form of art. In Benjamin’s book, he comments that even the best work of reproduction lacks “presence in time and space” (218). 

Because of the shift in society and the advancement of technologies, many people’s imaginations are sparked and there is an immediate effect on several industries, including the film industry. Instead of great works of art and paintings, we now see art in the form of motion-picture movies, such as Transformers. The science fiction action film combines computer animation with live-action, while incorporating robots in the form of cars. It can be argued that this is a new type of art that is being created, just in different ways. 

It may be true that older styles and forms of art are not being produced or created as much in this century, but with the advancements in society and new technologies that robotics allows, we are able to look at and appreciate new forms of art, such as photography or animated films. There are even talent shows, such as ArtBots, for younger students who can showcase their robots. The contest is described as “an unprecedented opportunity to design and express new kinds of emotion, perception, and consciousness” (Artbots Website: http://artbots.org/2011/). 

References:

"ArtBots Gent, the Robot Talent Show 2011." ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

"Summary: The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Introducing the Frankfurt School. N.p., 28 Feb. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. https://frankfurtschool.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/summary-the-work-of-art-in the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/

Vesna, Victoria. Robotics Intro. YouTube. Uconlineprogram, 18 Apr. 2015. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcPtv7tnKY

"Intermediate Photography." NetNZ. N.p., 02 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

"Climate Change Caused by 90 Companies Since Industrial Revolution." Wondergressive. N.p., 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.