Week 3 | Robotics and Art | Mass production, AI, and Distrust

Professor Vesna’s lecture for the week explored industrialization, which led to the concept of mass production and "assembly lines" that eventually led way to how much of everything is produced in our society (Vesna, Robotics pt2) . As a result of mass production, both in hard and soft copies, art work originally limited to a small population is now prevalent for anyone with internet access or a fraction of the original cost to purchase a replica. The phenomenon for making mass production possible may be attributed to assembly lines, and specifically robots that allow production beyond what is achievable by human labor alone. However, the societal response to machines and replicated art work/objects are dualfold.

Cross stitch replica of the artwork from the sistine chapel. Although it is out of context and a replica, the artwork still holds its artistic merit for providing a different type of experience commendable on its own behalf.

<http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/02/prweb344597.htm>

With the advancement of current technology, virtual tours may provide an sistine chapel experience "right from home" that you can see for yourself here: 

http://vatican.com/tour/sistine_chapel_3D/web

It's a tradeoff. The comfort of being in your home and cost afforded by a virtual tour for the cost of the "actual experience."

In a related topic, Walter Benjamin contends that "even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be" (Benjamin 1936). Essentially authenticity. Out materialistic culture to a certain degree and extent is driven by originality, even in the world of medicine. Applying Benjamin's concept or originality of art, robots can be thought of analogously to replicas that serve a singular function. As a result, there is a prevalent societal view that robots, no matter how advance they become, will always be below those who created it to simplify tedious functions, or otherwise complex human beings.

The movie Artificial Intelligence captures not only the artistic human imagination of how artificial intelligence would look like, but also the distrustful disdain humans have towards the idea of their own creations. Nonetheless, themes such as artificial intelligence and robotics have led to the creation of countless sci-fi based artwork, movies, and TV shows.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.I._Artificial_Intelligence>

One particular movie that comes to my mind is Artificial Intelligence, which describes a near future post-apocalyptic society where robots (referred to as meca) have adopted artificial intelligence in order to substitute aspects of societal human functions. This movie captures at its very core the overall distrust humans have towards their own masterpieces, in fear of being surpassed or even replaced by their own creation.

Other movies such as Terminator I, II, III further exemplifies the same theme of distrust towards robotics.<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340138/>

While less prevalent, credit cards is one of the most prevalent forms of human transactions that is processed digitally, essentially by robots. Since we feel more secure with carrying around cash rather than using our credit cards, humans generally have a disdain towards technological advancements.

According to statistics, credit card fraud accounts for "5.55 Billion in liability also account for 40% of all financial frauds" Thus, our mistrust may not be directly geared towards the technology itself but rather how it can be used for unwarranted activities. Personally, I believe technology, robots, and technology have expanded artwork in a manner that could not otherwise be achieved. However, I also believe it is essential for original art work to be available in its original context for those who are interested in submerging themselves with the "authentic" experience.

Reference:

"Artificial Intelligence (Philosophical Films)." Artificial Intelligence (Philosophical Films). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/artificial.htm>.

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Schocken/Random House, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm>.

"Credit Card Fraud Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. N.p., 12 July 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://www.statisticbrain.com/credit-card-fraud-statistics/>.

"The Sistine Chapel 3D Virtual Tour - Online Virtual Visit from Your Home."The Sistine Chapel 3D Virtual Tour - Online Virtual Visit from Your Home. Vatican.com, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <http://vatican.com/tour/sistine_chapel_3D/web>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics Pt2." YouTube. University of California, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. <https://youtu.be/oAZ8bo9T_Pk>.

"Woman Takes Ten Years To Cross-Stitch a Replica of Sistine Chapel - Cl."PRWeb. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. <http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/02/prweb344597.htm>.