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| Viewing man as part of machine |
Industrialization and the art of mass reproduction has
played and will continue to play a large role in societies infatuation with
robotics in the form of humanoids, cyborgs, and other types of robotic
machinery. Ford’s assembly line and others like it brought about analogy of men
as part of a machine, fueling the fascination and development of the art of
robotics.[6]
Although the idea of a robot has many meanings and roles in
society today, robots are prominent and have largely influenced the art of cinema (particularly science fiction
and thrillers). In the movie Chappie, a thinking, feeling, humanized robot is
introduced into a futuristic world with a mechanized robotic police force.[2] However,
the conclusion of the movie reveals societies underlying fears and uncertainties about the future of robotics,
when criminals trick Chappie and he starts committing brutal crimes, while the
entire police force is shut down during a time of corruption.
 |
| Chappie the Robot with human emotions |
However, art is
influencing the creation of a physical variety of robotic creations outside
of movies that are worth considering. The roles of engineer and artist are
merging [3] creating objects like Matthias Dorfelt’s Robo Faber, a miniature
robot that is actually a designer. Dorfelt created the robot to generate a time
snapshot of his current creative thinking and practice, “inside of Robo Faber,
frozen in time”.[1]
 |
| Robo Faber drawing |
Art has also lead to the creation of robots being used to help others appreciate and gain access to art. At the De Young, an Art Museum in San Francisco, there are now two mobile robots with flat screens strolling through the museum. The idea is, individuals who are sick or paralyzed and unable to come to the museum can still enjoy the museum through a web cam that the touring robot is connected to.[5] Check out how this works in the video!
 |
| Touring Robot at the De Young |
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is also influencing
robotics. Mari Velonaki created a project there where interactive robots roam
the museum freely and respond differentially to visitors depending on their
reactions. Fish and Bird are two empty wheelchair robots, meant to signify the
absence of a person, that write each other and visitors love letters from
installed printers.[4] See Fish and Bird in action here. These examples reveal
the bidirectional nature of art and robotics influence and question the negative undertone of robots that is present in
movies and society.
 |
| Fish and Bird Robots |
References
[1]Brooks,
Katherine. "If The Future Of Art Is Robotics, At Least It Will Be
Adorable." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Nov.
2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/robo-faber_n_4269146.html>.
[2]Grush,
Loren. "Why A Real CHAPPiE Robot Would Be More Of A Mystery Than A
Friend." Popular Science. 6 Mar. 2015. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.popsci.com/does-film-chappie-illustrate-future-artificial-intelligence>.
[3]Kushara,
Machiko. “Robotics MachikoKusahara 1.” Math + Art. 14 Apr. 2012. Web.
[4]Lim,
Angelica. "What Roboticists Can Learn From Art, and What Artists Can Learn
From Robots." IEE Spectrum. IEE Spectrum, 2 May 2013. Web. 18 Apr.
2015.
<http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/diy/what-roboticists-can-learn-from-art>.
[5]"Robots
Open up the World of Art." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 1 Mar. 2015.
Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/robots-open-up-the-world-of-art/>.
[6]Vesna,Victoria.
“Lecutre Part 2.” Math + Art. 12 Oct. 2012. Web.
Hello Natalie! I agree that robots are playing a more and more important role in the art of cinema. I like your example of FIsh and Bird. It certainly correponds with this week's topics of art and robotics and it is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat's up Natalie! After reading your post, I totally agree with your view on robotics and how they are emerging as a modern, more contemporary technological innovation not simply creating change in the field of robotics rather it has caused a ripple effect throughout the globe. Advances in robotics are allowing creative minds to work in conjunction with science and technology. I didn't catch your take on Benjamin Walter's piece, but according to what you have written I would assume you disagree as I do. If anything, don't you think robots are foster a new kind of creativity rather than bounding it? Let me know what you think, but I really like how you connected art, science, and technology as one simply allowing each field to change and create its own manifestations from this robotic technology that has risen increasingly over the past century.
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