One of the earliest forms of robotics and art can be traced back to the printing press, a catalyst to machinery growing in society (Vesna Part 1 0:31-2:37). This manual "machine" grew a trend of rapid-production, especially with the Ford cars beginning the assembly line (Vesna Part 2 0:58-1:36). I was particularly interested in the personification of machinery and robots throughout this week's topic. What struck me as interesting was the disapproval about these new developments, specifically Benjamin Walter emphasizing that "Mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses towards art" (pg. 4 XII). He criticizes machinery for taking away the uniqueness and individuality from art and people, coinciding with the perspective that the assembly line was seen as a way to treat humans as machines, and taken with some resistance from society (Vesna Part 2 1:20-1:55).
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| Ford Assembly Line Image |
However, in modern times, we have been able to view robotics in society as more artistic and more personable. Japan's particular love for humanoid robots was developed through Japanese media, where people were able to personify a humanoid robot in a more positive manner that allowed society to accept this new technology (Kasuahara 1:43-5:35). This overtook the initial scare that stemmed from the industrial revolution that robots will take over human life, tracing back to the assembly lines and machinery recreated items (Kasuahara 11:23-12:20). It's interesting that this fear of robots is still somewhat present in the development of AI, with the Turing Machine the foundation of really testing what constitutes an artificial intelligence (Vesna Part 3 4:33-6:54). It seems that society has been able to personify this new age of robotics and art as something both fascinating and terrifying: when it pushes the confines of innovation we respond with astonishment, but when it threatens our comfortability we respond with fear.
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| Couple with a Lovot, a Japanese Robot that is Declared to be the "First Robot with a Heart". |
Finally, I wanted to explore how society currently still personifies robots, showing the way that we tend to attach it to human qualities to make it more digestible. In Sun Yuan & Peng Yu's robotic artwork "Can't Help Myself", one can't help but feel pity and sadness for the robot, evoking emotion despite its faceless appearance. This emphasizes the notion that as a society who has come to accept machinery, it can still evoke the same emotions and personification that is found in art.
Video: Artpiece of "Cant Help Myself" from the Guggenheim Museum.
Works Cited
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Accesible by Course on Bruinlearn, 1936.
Vesna, Victoria. “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/ robotic art - Part 1” Youtube, 26 Mar. 2012, https://youtu.be/dJcPtv7tnKY?si=hcH_PI2anrbgelKN
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics - Part 2” Youtube, 26 Mar. 2012, https://youtu.be/dJcPtv7tnKY?si=hcH_PI2anrbgelKN
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics - Part 3” Youtube, 26 Mar. 2012, https://youtu.be/dJcPtv7tnKY?si=hcH_PI2anrbgelKN
Kasuhara, Machiko. "Professor Machiko Kusahara on Japanese robotics" Bruinlearn, Accessible by login link.
Images cited
Fleuri, Johann. "Japan’s Emotionally Enhanced Robots — and the People Who Love Them." The Japan Times, 13 Nov. 2022, www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/11/13/general/robot-pepper-lovot-companions/.
Eschner, Kat. "In 1913, Henry Ford Introduced the Assembly Line: His Workers Hated It." Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-hundred-and-three-years-ago-today-henry-ford-introduced-assembly-line-his-workers-hated-it-180961267/.
Guggenheim Museum. “Time-Lapse of Sun Yuan & Peng Yu’s ‘Can’t Help Myself.” YouTube, 3 Dec. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRjrI42WsH4
Hi Kaylee, I found it really interesting that you shared the "First robot with a heart" image. I learned in my COMM100 class that they are now using AI for therapy. People feel comforted in sharing their feelings with a chatbot and it's cathartic for them. I can see how this might decrease feelings of loneliness and depression but also be scary to think we're confiding in a robot. This week's lesson also reminded me of one of my favorite "I Love Lucy" episodes where the invention of the conveyer belt assembly line led to chaos with the two comedians at a chocolate shop. This is yet another example how as a society we've combined art and robotics.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for sharing,
Brooke