The mass production of cars in 1940’s brought with it a
Taylorism emphasis on mechanization (Vesna) and the controversy of technology’s role in
the human condition. Some artists lamented this atomization to be the bane of
our existence, while others insisted that it was to be a critical part of our
future. While I sympathize with their underlying concerns, I am more hopeful
for the ways technology and robotics can improve the human condition.
Walter Benjamin
Walter Benjamin critiques videography, asserting that technology
reduces art to an object to be mindlessly consumed by the public, a form of
distraction rather than something encouraging concentration (Benjamin, 4-5). Benjamin assumes that videography and technology removes the critical attitude towards
arts, but fails to see how the nuances can still only be observed by the
focused. In Björk’s music video for All
is Full of Love, we watch the construction of two robots, with the final scene
consisting of them kissing. However, a focused viewer would observe sentiency
in the robots’ eyes, vulnerability in their movements. They would see that the
two identical robots are conveying Björk’s underlying message that, all is full
of love. Regardless of gender, race, or species, we are all capable and
deserving of love. Technology has allowed artists to convey a wider range of
emotions with fewer words.
Music Video for "All is Full of Love" by Björk
Professor Machiko states in Robotics that today, while society is still
skeptical about robotics and mechanization, there is a blurred line between
artist and engineer. While some are weary about technology’s capacity to render
humanity useless, many artists and engineers have harnessed it to establish a
greater connection with humanity.
Engineer artist Stelarc surgically implanted an ear on his arms,
allowing for the body to perform outside of the local context.
Stelarc's "Ear on Arm"
Hiroshi Ishiguro
created a gemenoid of himself, even going so far to get plastic surgery every
few years to ensure likeliness.
Hiroshi Ishiguro's gemenoid
Artist Samson Young utilizes clips of night
bombings and recreates these sounds on hand held radios for the audience to
experience.
Samson Young's production of "Nocturne"
What these engineer artists all have in common is their use of
technology to push the boundaries of what we can experience. Through their
works, we indirectly experience the trauma of people living in war zones, we
can see and hear ourselves from a remote perspective. The interaction of
technology and art connects humans. It instills a greater understanding of both
ourselves and each other.
Machiko, Kusahara. "Robotics MachikoKusahara 1." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 Apr 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZ_sy-mdEU>.
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in Age of Mechanical Reproduction." (1936) Marxists. N.p.. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm>.
Young, Samson. "Nocturne." Samson Young. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.thismusicisfalse.com/Nocturne>.
Stelarc. "Stelarc // Ear on Arm." Stelarc // Ear on Arm. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://stelarc.org/?catID=20242>.
"Humanoid Robot - Gemonoid HI-1 Android Prototype." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD1CdjlrTBM>.
I agree that there is a blurred line between artists and engineers. For example, Fred Abels' robot DIRK, was not only a robotic marvel but also a fine work of art that commented on the homeless. Additionally, there seems to be a blurring of the line between robots and machines. We are developing machines that convey emotions, can have conversations and react in extremely "human" ways.
ReplyDelete