Week 3 Blog, Laura Ponce, DESMA9

   In the domain of robotics and art, these two join forces to combine technology and creativity and produce ideas and creations that are out of this world. As Professor Vesna stated, to even get into robotics, we have to travel back to the creation of the printing press in 1040 by the Chinese (Vesna, n.d.). The impact of the printing press was one of a kind. Professor Vesna also highlights industrialization and how it connects to robotics, stating that the creation of the robot was through theater as a response to the mechanization of labor (Vesna,). This revolutionized the world in ways that humans back then couldn’t even think of. Movies, mass production, and the way humans thought about everyday life were hugely impacted. 

Team, D. (2023, July 18). AI & Robotics in robotic art: Unlocking creativity. Daisie Blog. https://blog.daisie.com/ai-robotics-in-robotic-art-unlocking-creativity/ 


A great example of the robot aesthetic is explained through Machiko Kusahara, a professor at Waseda University in Japan (Vesma, n.d.). Kusahara highlights how engineers find ways for  humanoid robots to be needed, not a luxury, but a need. An example in the Kusahara video is nicely explained through the use of emergency services. In the case of a disaster, humanoid robots can serve a purpose. The need for human validation and in order for the general public to not be scared of these robots, these humanoids are given friendly faces. 

Premium Photo: Humanoid robot with a friendly face in the interior of a modern office. Freepik. (n.d.). https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/humanoid-robot-with-friendly-face-interior-modern-office_132163389.htm

The integration of mechanics and aesthetics pushes the boundaries of traditional art forms. Gijs van Bon is a perfect example of  the convergence of robotics and art through artwork. His creations convert mechanical motions into amazing theatrical spectacles and encourages viewers to see a whole new realm where humanity and machines coincide (van Bon).



Establishing Shot. (2021a, September 13). Wall-E: Robots, romance, and resilience. https://blogs.iu.edu/establishingshot/2021/09/13/wall-e-robots-romance-and-resilience/ 


Benjamin's article highlights the impact of mechanical reproduction on the concept of authenticity in art. He contends that while mechanical reproduction provides new possibilities for accessibility, it also takes away from the unique presence (Benjamin, 1936). Although Benjamin's exploration is decades old, his level of thought on mechanical reproduction reflects modern ideas that are valid today in regards to the changing nature of artistic expression. Closely, the article, “….”, mentions that despite advancements in digital technology and interconnected information, there is authentic artistic expression that is missing (Davis, 1995). Both authors hold the same viewpoint and conclude that there is a lack of authenticity. 



Citations: 

  1. Vesna, Victoria. (n.d.) Professor Machiko Kusahara on Japanese robotics

  2. Vesna, Victoria. (n.d.) Lecture Part 1

  3. van Bon, Gijs. (n.d.). http://www.gijsvanbon.nl/ 

  4. Benjamin, Walter. (1936). The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781912284894 

  5. Davis, Douglas. (1995). Leonardo, Vol. 28, No. 5, Third Annual New York Digital Salon. pp. 381-386 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0024-094X%281995%2928%3A5%3C381%3ATWOAIT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M

Comments

  1. Isabel CarsonApril 21, 2024 at 7:58 PM

    Hi Laura,

    I really enjoyed the topics of your blog. You focused on the good of robots and how they become art through their necessity, which I did not even think of when studying this week. I do not like modern-day robots and find them highly creepy, but your blog helped me understand the benefits of robots when making them for good things. Lastly, I loved your image of Wall-E. It adds a kinder image of robots by reminding people of the movie most watched as a kid.

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