Week 3: Robotics + Art

“it is with horror, frankly, that he rejects all responsibility for the idea that metal contraptions could ever replace human beings.” – Karl Capek (1935)

The year is 2015. 80 years later and the fear that robots will be capable of replacing (or destroying) us linger in our minds.

[Image 1: Bar graph depicting probability of automation]

Other than survey data collected in the interest of how robots can impact us, it is mass outreach of media and other forms of art that allows us to analyze how society truly responds to industrialization and the effects of mechanization.

My personal observation is that society either revels in amazement or becomes paralyzed with fear.

As a film minor, I am exposed to films arising a lot of the time as a response to a new wave of innovation, a historical triumph and in this case, there are films that also responded to industrialization.  Here is a short scene from “Modern Times” showing Charlie Chaplin becoming one with an assembly line.

[Video 1: Charlie Chaplin in "Modern Times"]

In “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” Walter Benjamin states that “mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art,” and film is the most powerful agent (Benjamin, 2-3). I agree with this statement but I find myself disagreeing that mechanical reproduction destroys “aura.” Instead, I would like to venture out with the idea that mechanical reproduction continuously creates new auras with the development of ideas and sharing of perspectives through film.

Robotics is a field that links engineers, visionaries, politicians etc. We can see how robots and art are integrated and depicted in films such as “Her,” “X-men: Days of Future Past” and the most recent robotics film “EX-MACHINA” to see how society responds to industrialization.

HER

[Image 2: Art poster for "Her"]

This film hints at the possibility for finding love with robots. Our society is moving toward a culture where technological advances can be potential lovers and with more innovative findings…who can blame them right?

X-MEN: Days of Future Past

[Image 3: Sentinel robots destroying RFK Stadium]

These robots are adaptive and destructive. With mechanization and mass production, will our armies be robots and are they a potential threat to our being? Another question to ponder is if they will become strong enough to be unstoppable?

EX-MACHINA

[Image 4: EX-MACHINA movie poster]

Described as “a ‘Frankenstein’ for the search-engine generation,” this film involves the concept of artificial intelligence. Will our robots ever gain the intellectual means to be deceptive, strategic and seductive?

Unsure if I’m excited or worried.

WORKS CITED:

Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. 1st ed. 1936. Print.

"Chaplin Modern Times Factory Scene HD." YouTube. YouTube, 31 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANXGJe6i3G8>.

"Episode 34: Spike Jonze's Her: A SIRI-ous Story about Robot Love." The Rusted Robot » Blog Archive » Episode 34: Spike Jonze’s Her: A SIRI-ous Story about Robot Love. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Frei, Vincent. "X-MEN – DAYS OF FUTURE PAST: Lou Pecora – VFX Supervisor – Digital Domain | The Art of VFX." The Art of VFX. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

McCue, Michelle. "Meet Ava In New EX MACHINA Poster; A24 Will Debut First U.S. Trailer On Tuesday - We Are Movie Geeks." We Are Movie Geeks. N.p., 02 Mar. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Peterson, Hayley. "The 12 Jobs Most At Risk Of Being Replaced By Robots." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk>.