I was again surprised at the relationship between art and
robotics. When I think of robotics, the first thing that comes to mind is the
future, but I learned that robotics includes mechanization as well. Science
again plays a critical role in art.
The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg led the way
for more inventions and the spread of art works (Norman).
Walter Benjamin also
references this in his work "The Work of
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". Benjamin describes
how the reproduction of works of art emancipates the art from rituals (Benjamin).
Douglas Davis also touches on the idea of the lack of distinction between the
original and the reproduction and describes how the aura of the original has
been transferred to the copies (Davis). Ford also applied the mass reproduction
idea to his car production and the assembly line (Vesna). The car is also a
form of artwork, and he reproduction made it easier for the masses to own a car
instead of just the wealthy, similar to art in the Middle Ages. Only the
wealthy were able to own artwork, but with reproduction of the pieces the
masses were able to enjoy artwork as well.
 |
| Gutenberg Printing Press |
 |
| Ford Assembly Line |
Nikola
Tesla was the inventor of the alternating current electrical system, which
allowed more inventions and machines to be created and powered by electricity
(Vesna). This electrical system was critical in the music industry (Vesna). Especially
for rock music, which relies heavily on the recording studio, sound space and
electronics to enhance and create certain sounds that exemplify rock. For
example, amplifiers are crucial to rock. An example of this is the Kinks’ hit
“You Really Got Me” in 1964 (Fink).
 |
| The Kinks |
They overdrove a small amplifier and hooked
it up to a larger amplifier to create a distorted sound, which is now
identified with rock in roll (Fink). All different kinds of pedals were also
created to distort sound and create reverb that also use this current invented
by Tesla. Again, science and mechanics are used create art.
 |
| Amplifier used by the Kinks |
 |
| Distortion Pedal |
I
thought the most fascinating robotic art was by Fred Ables. His website itself
combines art and robotics because the spacing and layout is very aesthetically
pleasing and artistic but the font and color scheme make it look very
mechanical and computerized (Ables). One of his kinetic sculptures is the
Ornitopther, which is a mechanical bird with a wingspan of 5 meters (Ables). He
also puts on the electric circus with a puppeteer named Miriam Langemeijer
and has two of his robots, Mono and Dirk, perform on the street. They are so
lifelike, Dirks was once arrested in Germany (“About Electric Circus”).
 |
| Mono the robot |
Works
Cited
Ables, Fred. "Fred
Abels." Fred Abels. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
"ABOUT ELECTRIC
CIRCUS." About Electic Circus. Electric Circus, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Benjamin, Walter, and J. A.
Underwood. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.
London: Penguin, 2008. Print.
Davis, Douglas. "The Work
of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction (An Evolving Thesis:
1991-1995)." Leonardo 28.5, Third Annual New York Digital Salon
(1995): 381-86. JSTOR. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Fink, Robert. "Music
History of Rock 'n' Roll." Music History 5. UCLA, Los Angeles. Apr. 2015.
Lecture.
Norman, Jerry. "Relating
the Rapidly Changing Present to the Distant Past as Far as Book History Is
Concerned." Relating the Rapidly Changing Present to the Distant Past
as Far as Book History Is Concerned. History of Information, 19 Apr. 2015.
Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Vesna,
Victoria. "Robotics + Art." UCLA, Los Angeles. 19 Apr. 2015. DESMA
9. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
I think that you really took time to understand this weeks topic and I liked all the examples that you used. What things in your everyday life are you affected by with this relationship?
ReplyDeleteReilly, thanks for sharing these insights. I haven't really thought of music and printing press as robotics+art so thanks for providing that perspective. I think that cars began as functional objects since horses weren't practical, but I can see them evolving into luxury items that are seen as status symbols, much like other forms of art.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when thinking of robots, I think of the future of our world. But then we have to take a step back and realize that is how every generation must feel. Back in the day people probably thought that the present day computer would be some sort of robot! Now we think of machines that can think, act, and do things faster than us are robots. What will be next in the thought of robotics? I also love that you brought us the assembly line, because these days everything is mass produced. People used to think that the assembly line was a huge invention and that nothing could top it, yet so many products these days use the assembly line, it has become a norm in our society.
ReplyDelete