Sunday, July 3, 2016
Week 2 Robotics & Art
The Industrial Revolution introduced
society to technological innovation and large scale production. During this
time our nation experienced a huge growth in new inventions shifting to powered
machinery. This shift increased the volume of manufactured goods. The inventions
of the printing press and moveable type helped mass production to become
readily available. The invention of the conveyer belt by Henry Ford coupled
with Alan Turing’s invention of the
Turing Test, which explored the idea of a computer thinking for itself, all led
to the beginning of robotics. Many people reacted differently to the
industrialized world, some embraced it while others had a lot of apprehension
about it. A common fear was that machines would replace people in the
workplace. On the other hand, others saw it as a way to increase agricultural
and manufacturing output.
Professor Machiko Kusahara’s presentation
about robotics depicts how differently the Japanese and Americans differ on
their opinions about how industrialization has affected our culture in terms of
robots. She mentions that the Western World has a distrust and fear of robots,
viewing them as both a friend and an enemy. However, the Japanese see robots as friends. The
Japanese see technology as hope for the future. I believe Americans have
opposing feelings of robots because of the mixed messages in the portrayal of
robots in movies. In some movies they are seen as friendly characters while in
others they are seen as evil. For example, the Disney movie “Robots” is a
family friendly movie that is happy and harmonic, whereas, the main character
in “The Terminator” is a cyborg assassin.
After reading Walter
Benjamin’s “The work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” I agree with
his argument that mechanical reproduction has destroyed or put an end to the
uniqueness of art. But, in hindsight, it has allowed artists to profit from being
able to replicate mass quantities of their work. Although it has taken away the
authenticity of art, the cutting edge of art reproduction technology has made
beloved pieces of artwork available for the masses to enjoy. As an example, below
is a poster of a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. The original is worth millions
while the reproduction retails for about $12.00. This is my sisters favorite
painting by Van Gogh, one she would never have the opportunity to afford or own
if it hadn’t been reproduced. Perhaps, the aura of the artwork has been lost,
but the aesthetic appeal has not.
Works
Cited
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in
the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.
Kusahara, Machiko. “On Japanese
Robotics.” Lecture. CoLE DESMA 9. Web. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/484297/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=8599391>.
"Movie Review – The Terminator
(1984)." Flickering Myth. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 June 2016.
Robotics Pt1. Dir. Victoria
Vesna. YouTube. UCLA, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 June. 2016.
Robotics Pt3. Dir. Victoria
Vesna. YouTube. UCLA, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 June. 2016.
"Robots That "show
Emotion"" David Hanson:. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2016.
"The Café Terrace on the Place Du Forum,
Arles, at Night, C.1888 Posters by Vincent Van Gogh at AllPosters.com."
Allposters.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2016.
Vesna,Victoria. “Lecutre Part 2.” Math + Art. 28 June 2016. Lecture.
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ReplyDeleteHi Jake,
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that you compared the Japanese and American society's contrasting views on robots and artificial intelligence. American media has indeed stigmatized robots in some of their productions. However, I agree with you on that the general feeling is mixed, especially when I recall more harmless portrayals of robots in films such as Wall-E. I think although there exists fear and distrust for robots in the western world, America's technology industry is still pioneering in developing more capable robots and embedding artificial intelligence into various products and services. I do believe that there're cultural differences when it comes to accepting and adapting to technology, but I think the very purpose of technology - to connect and help understand - is helping the world bridge this gap.