Week 3: Math + Robotics
April 13th, 2022
The introduction of robotics, computation, and automation has exponentially changed the way humans view their everyday lives. For many, automation begins with the introduction of the computer. But for artists, it begins with the creation of the printing press. In the 1440s, Johannes Gutenburg would forever revolutionize the way media is massed produced and viewed around the world with the creation of the printing press. Prior to his invention, bookmakers had to hand press inked letter blocks on individual sheets of paper to create novels, poetry, and other forms of writing during its very slow, mundane process. His invention later 20x the rate of novel production. His views of automation and mass production would go on to influence creators such as Rene Descartes (father of modern philosophy) and Nikola Tesla (creator of the A/C) to think outside the box and increase innovation and technological advancements.
In the class reading titled, "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction", author Walter Benjamin writes an elaborate, cultural revolutionary book that helps detach the narrative of a "fixed place" in art and literacy to further increase creativity in the arts and sciences. Additionally, Benjamin's writing argues that mechanical advancements "devalue" an arts "aura"- an interesting idea to say the least. I personally disagree with this ideology because art has and always will be open to interpretation. However, I find his analysis very well thought out and constructive in the world of art criticism and analysis. The true beauty about art is that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. It is always open for discussion and differing likes and dislikes make art controversial and exciting. Controversial and exciting definitely tie into this weeks discussion.
Walter Benjamin's Famous Book Cover
The movie that resonated with me the most with this week's blog was the original 1931 Frakenstein movie which does an exceptional job capturing the worst-case scenario for scientific creativity and automation. Another book-turned-movie that I also thought of was George Orwell's 1984 which shows the rise of totalitarian states through the exponential increase of technological advancements in the modern world. Besides these movies, a required class movie that I found the most interesting was titled, "Robots that "show emotion". I found this particular film interesting because robots will never show real emotion, just display how emotions should be portrayed. But just like art, my opinion will always be up for debate.
The Intersection of Art and AI
Citations
Abott, Edwin. Flatland a Romance of Many Dimensions. https://www.math.ksu.edu/~cjbalm/570s14/flatland.pdf.
Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” 2018, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781912284894.
Davis, Douglas. “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction (an Evolving Thesis: 1991-1995).” Leonardo, vol. 28, no. 5, 1995, p. 381., https://doi.org/10.2307/1576221.
E, Hellmet. “Johannes Gutenberg.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johannes-Gutenberg.
Haynes, Suyin. “A New Robot Questions How Creative AI and Machines Can Be.” Time, Time, 17 June 2019, https://time.com/5607191/robot-artist-ai-da-artificial-intelligence-creativity/.
Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics + Art." University of California, Los Angeles, 12 Apr. 2022, Los Angeles, Ca. Lecture.
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