Robotics + Art
The intersection of robotics and art challenges our traditional understanding of what constitutes a work of art. Walter Benjamin's essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" argues that the introduction of technologies such as the printing press and photography/film have fundamentally changed our relationship with art and traditional notions of craftsmanship and unique, hand-crafted art (Benjamin & Vesna Lecture Part 1). This argument can be extended to the use of robotics in art, as it challenges our perception of what art is and how it is created. The use of machines in the creation of art brings into question the role of the artist, the creative process, and the value of authenticity.
In Rosheim's "Leonardo's Lost Robots," the author explores the historical relationship between robots and art (Rosheim & Vesna Lecture Part 2). The use of robots in art has evolved over time, and their image has changed with shifts in popular culture. In early science fiction, robots were often portrayed as monstrous, soulless machines. In contrast, more recent depictions of robots in popular culture often emphasize their human-like qualities, such as emotions, empathy, and consciousness.
The integration of robotics and art has generated numerous fascinating works of art that challenge our understanding of what art is and how it is created. One example is the "Robotic Action Painter" created by Leonel Moura as it was designed to create abstract paintings autonomously, without human intervention (Moura). Similarly, Karel Čapek's R.U.R. explored the dehumanizing effects of technology and the potential loss of control that accompanies technological progress. The play's portrayal of robots as slave laborers that eventually rebel and overthrow their human creators reflects a fear of the unintended consequences of technology (Čapek).
RAP, 200906, 2006, ink on canvas, 90 x 120 cm & RAP 230807, 2007, ink on canvas, 130 x 180 cm. Collection Bebot Association. https://www.leonelmoura.com/rap-2/
In conclusion, the integration of robotics and art has led to the creation of numerous fascinating works of art that explore the relationship between humans and machines, and raise fundamental questions about the meaning and value of art in contemporary society.
Works Cited
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. 1936.Karel Čapek, and Claudia Novack. R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). Penguin Books, 2004.
Moura, L. (n.d.). A new kind of art: The Robotic Action Painter - Researchgate. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228865742_A_New_Kind_of_Art_The_Robotic_Action_Painter
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics + Art Lecture Part 2"
Image Sources
FRIDA, a collaborative robotics and art project at Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon University) https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/ai-robot-artist-generative-artificial-intelligence-b2277423.html
RAP, 200906, 2006, ink on canvas, 90 x 120 cm. https://www.leonelmoura.com/rap-2/
RAP 230807, 2007, ink on canvas, 130 x 180 cm. Collection Bebot Association. https://www.leonelmoura.com/rap-2/
I enjoyed reading your blog post and I agree with many of the points that your raised regarding the effects of robotics on art. The first image you show of a robot doing art really led me to think about the role that humans play in creating art and how important the human aspect is for adding value to art. Additionally your reference to ex machina I think is great because it does emphasis the change of how robots are portrayed in society and pop culture. There is a push to humanize robots but at the same time I do not think that this suddenly allows for robots to create art and fill the role that humans have in adding value to a piece of art. In conclusion the relationship between art and robotics is ever changing and in the future I hope to see further integration of robotics and art but I also hope to see a decrease in robots creating art and increasing the issue of reproducibility.
ReplyDeleteHey Madison, I really enjoyed reading your blog and how you tied it into the central theme of Benjamin's book. I liked your examples of Ex Machina and the Robotic Action Painter especially how they highlight society's negative perceptions and reactions to industrialization and robotics in general. I do think, however, that robots can be looked at a new tool that can help add new dimensions to our work of art (I mentioned some technologies in my blog!). Overall good job!
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