Robotics + Art

During the 15^th century, Gutenberg revolutionized the art of mass production and thus the spread of knowledge by bringing the Chinese invented printing press to the west.   In the past, I was always taught that the arrival of this new technology was one of the most important moments in Western history as it kick started the Age of Enlightenment and the spread of knowledge, music, and politics through books.  Yet, this unit had enabled me too delve into another subject that I had previously not considered as being effected by this upheaval in society: art.  Mass manufacturing through industrialization has triggered the problem of lost “aura,” which Walter Benjamin describes as the loss of “uniqueness or authenticity due to mechanical reproduction of artwork.”  Thus, the copying of art by machines to distribute to the rest of the world may diminish the true beauty and influence the original art piece could have upon its viewers.  On the other hand, more people are able to learn and grasp the impact of art than ever before because anyone with access to a book or computer can see these reproductions. 

revolutionarypeoplefromtherenaissance.weebly.com

           

This de-authentication of artwork by machine did not stop in the 16^th century and instead has continued into modern times as machines continue to progress.  For example, Henry Ford also utilized mass production to take a product invented for the wealthy, cars, and enabled it to be accessible to the general public.  But, similar to the mass production of art, this assembly line method of creating cars allowed anyone to appreciate it and spread its popularity and use across the west. 

http://corporate.ford.com/innovation/100-years-moving-assembly-line.html

Another method of mass distribution has come in the form of computer and the Internet.  Alan Turning created the idea of a computer to decipher the German enigma machine to help the Allies intercept and decode German messages during the war.  This difficult creation was illustrated in the movie “The Imitation Game” which showed the giant computer of the past and enabled viewers to see how far we have come in way of technology.  For example, now computers can look up any piece of artwork across the world and throughout history, enabling widespread art appreciation. 

Alan Turning (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) explains the idea of the first computer in the movie "The Imitation Game." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvppZNe6jAQ

Even though Walter Benjamin believed that the reproduction of artwork lacks presence in time and space, I believe that this loss may be worth it to advance the spread of art as a whole and continue the creation of new technology. We can take this one step further and also claim that now technology as a whole is influencing the idea of art itself.  Arthur Ganson, for example, has an entire collection of machines as art that can aid viewers in seeing this connection firsthand. 

“Machine with Roller Chain” by Arthur Ganson

http://www.arthurganson.com/pages/Sculptures.html

Citations

Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” Marxists. N.p.. Web. 18 April 2016. <http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm>.

Ganson, Arthur. “Machines.”  N.p. Web. 18 April 2016.

< http://www.arthurganson.com/pages/Sculptures.html>

The Imitation Game. Dir. Morten Tyldum. Perf. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightly. StudioCanal, 2014. Film.

Vensa, Victoria. Robotics + Art Lecture. UCOnline. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkP7oSZVkbg>

Vensa, Victoria. Robotics + Art Lecture. UCOnline. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.