Week 3: Robotics and Art

Going through the history of robotics, it is important to note the printing press that was brought to the West by Gutenberg in the 15th century. This is an interesting point that Dr. Vesna makes. From looking at the topic of this week, robotics and art, I would not have thought that we would discuss the printing press. However, the printing press was a major shift in the sciences, arts, religion, and the list goes on (Vesna). The ability to print books allowed greater access to literature for scientists and artists and paved the way to incorporate these areas in robotics. 

                                                       Sketch of a printing press, a vital 

                                                        advancement for both the arts and sciences

Another interesting point is that many of first creators of robotic machinery were artists. For example, Leonarda da Vinci created an automata, essentially a predecessor of cyborgs. This is also the case today. For instance, Mirjam Langemeijer and Fred Abels are two artists or creators who invented the Electric Circus. The entire show consists of robots able to carry out tricks as seen in a typical circus. These artists created amazing realistic robots to the point where people would not notice that it wasn’t an actual human or animal. Abels, in the video below, makes a point about being labeled an artist. He explains that he doesn’t define himself as an artist; people labeled him this way, but he embodies a diverse individual working in many different fields that are normally thought to be separate. 

                                          "The Puppeteer and the Inventor" by Mirjam Langemeijer 

                                            and Fred Abels

Walter Benjamin wrote about mechanical reproduction eliminating the originality that defines the original work of people such as Langemeijer and Abels. The aspect of an assembly line was monumental for industrialization but may have removed the artistic nuances from production. This belief by Benjamin may be becoming more and more of a reality as mass production dominates any technological advancement. We begin to no longer look at a car, for example, as a unique piece of art as Felipe Thomas did in his article “La Figaro.”

The movie, I Robot starring Will Smith, embodies the role of robots in modern society rapidly taking the place of humans. Most societies encourage technological advancements, but we should be mindful when robotics are used as a mere means to eliminate the artistic, original, and beautiful work that humans are capable of.

                                          I, Robot Trailer 

Sources: 

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." (1936)

Donalo9. “The Puppeteer and The Inventor / Www.electric-Circus.eu.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 May 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=szCgiNOx-LE.

“I, Robot.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 15 July 2004, www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/.

Langemeijer , Mirjam, and Fred Abels. “Electric Circus Dresseur Der Automaten.” Electric Circus Dresseur Der Automaten, Electric-Circus.eu, www.electric-circus.eu/.

Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt1.” YouTube, YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew.