Week 3: Robotics and Art
Learning about industrialization as a precursor to the development of robotics and robotic art has been an interesting process. I am intrigued by the fact that the invention of the printing press was a huge catalyst for many industrial movements. As an English major and a book lover, it is so interesting to think about how the transformation of human knowledge onto a page had such a dramatic effect on the world, including foreshadowing the development of more and more complex machines. The printing press also introduces the idea of duplication, something that Walter Benjamin talks about extensively in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."
Benjamin discusses the ways in which the mechanical world adversely affects the uniqueness or "aura" of art. When speaking to reproduction, he states, "To an ever greater degree the work of art reproduced becomes the work of art designed for reproducibility" (6). In other words, when art is created to be mass reproduced, it loses a level of individuality and is therefore less valuable. Unfortunately, mass reproduction is a pillar of industrialization. I can think of ways that his essay still rings true today, particularly with the rise of "machines" called smartphones, that can take pictures, create and share art, etc, all with the capacity to be shared millions of times. In some ways, these effects of industrialization have made our lives easier, but it has also cheapened our relationship with creativity.
If Benjamin were alive today, I think he would argue that we have all become a part of "the machine." He may be impressed to see, however, the ways we have used machines to create amazing art such as in robotics. It would be so interesting to see his reaction to a robotic art piece such as Dirk the Homeless Robot!
1 . Amin Lee, Mikal. “The Value of Art in Crisis.” Counterbalance, 2 Jan. 2023, www.thecounterbalance.org/articles/death-of-art-a-modern-tragedy.
2. Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Schocken Books, 1935.
3. Meier, Allison C. “The American Art Style That Idolized the Machine.” JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2018, daily.jstor.org/the-american-art-style-that-idolized-the-machine/.
4. St-Art. “Influence of the Industrial Revolution on Art.” St-Art, 20 May 2021, st-artamsterdam.com/industrial-revolution-the-influence-on-art/.
5. Vesna, Victoria. DESMA 9: Lecture #1- Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/Robotic Art.
Images
1. “Dirk the Homeless Robot.” www.youtube.com, 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh2WcTcoLBc. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
2. st-Art. “Influence of the Industrial Revolution on Art.” St-Art, 20 May 2021, st-artamsterdam.com/industrial-revolution-the-influence-on-art/.
3. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Printing Press.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 14 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/technology/printing-press.
Hi Jessica! I loved reading your blog for this week, you did an amazing job integrating the perspectives of Benjamin into what we see with technology today. It really is amazing to see how much technology is integrated into our everyday lives. While it is unfortunate that mechanical reproduction reduced some form of originality, it still plays such a significant role in how art is made today and how we view art currently. Do you believe that given the growth of technology currently, creativity will decrease? Or would you consider this a new outlet for new forms of art to be created?
ReplyDeleteyour analysis of this weeks material is so thoughtful and impressive! however what particularly stood out to me was your comment that 'If Benjamin were alive today, I think he would argue that we have all become a part of "the machine."'. this is such an interesting - and i think true - thing to say. especially when the "machine" we are referring to is technology - we have all been sucked in and become mindless users attached to it, reliant on it, and cannot exist without - we have become one and we have lost our authenticity because
ReplyDeleteof it .
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate reading your analysis of the connection between machines and art. Seeing your description of the history and your view on it clears up and helps me understand the basis of this week's module. I loved how you brought up how Benjamin would think of the world we're living in right now. It leads me to reflect on our connection to technology and the attachment we have to it. Thank you!