Week 3: Robotics + Art
Abi Altick
April 21, 2019
Typically, when I think of robots, I immediately think of
the complicated calculations, mathematics, and engineers that are involved. It
seems pretty apparent that technology has immense effects on art; however, it
was not until this week’s readings and lectures that I realized that art
influences robotics as well. The first ideas of robots began with Ford’s
creation of the Model T in 1908. In order to create Model T’s more efficiently,
workers were eventually replaced by machinery and factories; this was our first
glimpse of robotics. As Professor Vensa indicates, the notion of a robot should
be understood as an automatic serf (Vesna). Since Fordism began, the
production of robotics has advanced tremendously. With these advancements, the
art surrounding robotics has advanced as well.
One of my most pivotal realizations of how art influences robotics was when I saw the movie I, Robot. This movie stars Will Smith, one of my favorite actors, whose job is to investigate the murder of his boss by a human-like robot. Along the way, Smith begins to believe that conspiracy theory that robots will begin to enslave the human race (Ebert). I, Robot is the perfect example of the combination of art and robotics; through this movie, the audience is able to learn an equal amount about both subjects. Despite these two subjects being very contradictory, it is very interesting to learn about how they influence one another.
Nowadays, human bots are becoming more and more relevant. For
example, the Aeolus Robot is the “first multi-functional robot that can act
like a human being” (Austin). This bot can be credited for doing skills such as
mopping floors, moving furniture, and retrieving food and drinks. Similar to
the movie I, Robot, I think it is
important that we do not try to make these bots capable of replacing human ability. Just as Will Smith was fearful of robots in the movie, I am also
concerned that we could become dependent on robots in the future. Therefore, it
is important that we recognize the importance of robotics while not putting too
much emphasis on them in daily life.
All in all, this week we learned that philosopher Walter Benjamin believed that the
work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction has influenced both art and
society. Benjamin believed that the aura of art will always be depreciated by
the advancements in mechanical reproduction. Benjamin states that mechanical
reproduction “emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on
ritual" (Benjamin). Despite their definitely being some truth behind Benjamin’s
criticisms, I believe that the advancements of mechanical reproduction have
only continued to enhance art.
Works Cited
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, UC Online, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.
Ebert, Roger. "I, Robot Moive Review & Film Summary (2004) RogerEbert.com/ 16 July 2004. Web. 18 April 2019 https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/i-robot-2004
Austin, Mark. "Home Robot Will Clean the House, Find Your Keys, and Bring You a Beer." Digital Trends. 20 January 2018. Web. 18 April 2019 https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/aeolus-home-robot-ces-2018/
Kent, Parker. "Junkbots: 8 Artists Creating Lovable Bots From Trash." Gajitz. 30 November 2009. Web. 20 April 2019 https://gajitz.com/junkbots-8-artists-creating-lovable-bots-from-trash/
Hi Helen,
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! I love your connection of robotics and art to the movie i, Robot. I too have seen the movie and believe it offers a great connection to the information and lectures we have been discussing this week. More specifically, the connection between Will Smith and the robot he is investigating throughout the movie helps to illuminate the connection between both the artistic expression behind the creation of robots and their potential danger to the human race. Great work!
-Sophie Bendetti
I really liked your insight on the development of robotics in relationship with industrialization. When most think of Ford, they think of cars, but few realize the impact that Henry Ford actually had on the world by introducing machines, production lines, and automation to the automobile industry. I also found your position on the development of robots interesting because many great technologists, such as Elon Musk, agree with you in that the world needs to be careful as artificial intelligence progresses and improves via reinforcement learning. All in all, very captivating post.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post for this week's task. The way you incorporated the movie i, Robot made a great connection to this weeks material. I also agree with your opinion that we should not try to make these robots capable of all human abilities.
Overall, very insightful and quality post!
-Taylor
Hello Helena,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post, and I thought your insight was very intriguing. When I was first writing my blog I completely did not even consider the movie I, Robot. Maybe the recollection of the film just slipped through my head and I forgot about it, but nonetheless your choice of I, Robot was perfect in exemplifying the point of this week's discussion. It tied in the fact of how we can start to see humans and robots go hand in hand.
Additionally, I took the same approach as you in my blog regarding Walter Benjamin. I feel that technology and robotics helps enhance the work artists do. I would even go as far to say that it creates new realms artists can explore. Great analysis!
Best,
Sebastian Haworth
Hi Helena,
ReplyDeleteI really connected to your blog post about how Robots portrayal in media influences societies view of Robots or technological advancements in the coming future. I agreed with what you said, but still I think media has had somewhat of a negative impact on these mechanical inventions in the sense that movies such as the one you mentioned above can portray robots in a negative light, as violent creations. However, due to the great accomplishments through technological advancements in medicine and other aspects, one can see that robots are not that bad as portrayal through art has made it seem.
Hi Helena,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post. I was in the same position as you when I first heard the what a robot was. I couldn't warp my head around how a robot could possibly be considered a form of art when it just seemed like a calculation. This weeks lecture really opened my eyes to take things in differently and look at it with a different perspective.
I find it fascinating that you state how not only is technology influencing art, but art is also influencing technology. Something I did not necessarily think of before hand. I will look into that more myself!
ReplyDelete