Week 3- Robotics and Art

In this week’s lectures, we continue to learn how art is not only intertwined with math and science, but is also related to robotics. As Professor Vesna mentions in lecture, artists have been and continue to be greatly influenced by robotics and mass production. Although this can be viewed as a positive, mass production inevitably has had a negative effect on art. Walter Benjamin expresses this negative influence mass production has on art when he says, “Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: in presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be” (Benjamin). As the pieces of art become reproduced, the multiple copies wash the uniqueness and the original beauty of it away.

An example of the mass production of artwork

The Disney Pixar movies are a prime example of how art and robotics relate to one another. It is with the use of computer technology that helps create virtual worlds that are visually appealing to an audience. The technology that is used to create these movies is very fascinating because they use machines/computers to take the sketches and drawings that were made to design and create characters that can move and talk. Pixar films help prove how art and technology rely on one another and can work in unity to help create such successful films.

The design process of the character from the Disney Pixar movie "Brave"

Disney Pixar Movie: "Brave"

Art and robotics are illustrated in Dr. David Hanson’s TED talk and it is with the creation of robots that help us to understand how much these two subjects are related to one another. Dr. David Hanson demonstrates his knowledge about robots and his creative invention of robots that are able to show empathy towards human beings. The use of art and technology together help create these robots, which enables them to operate and have characteristics very similar to human beings. Dr. David Hanson’s talk brings us insight into the world of technology and art and helps illustrate how important both of them are in the process of building/designing robots.

Dr. David Hanson's robot that is able to "show emotions"

Sources:

Professor Vesna- https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/63226/wiki/unit-3-view?module_item_id=970429

Benjamin, Walter. “ The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”

TED Talk David Hanson: "Robots that Show Emotion”. http://www.ted.com/talks/david_hanson_robots_that_relate_to_you.html

Wikipedia. David Hanson robot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Einstein-Hubo.jpg

http://andrewmulenga.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-choice-introduces-work-by-top.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217209/

http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/tag/pixar-brave-behind-the-scenes/