I found learning about the history of robotics and art this week very interesting, in particular learning about how the Industrial Revolution brought on many changes in the way people viewed art. The discussion of the loss of uniqueness with mechanical reproduction is noteworthy because it is very relatable and easy to see in today's society. Walter Benjamin discusses this issue in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction", he states "the technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition". As something is continually reproduced it begins to blur, and the authenticity and originality of it is lost.
(http://www.johannes-pilz.com/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mass-production.jpg)
(http://production-and-consumption-bs.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/7/1/16713658/_1528297_orig.jpg)
I feel that as a society we are aware of this and an example that comes to mind is our consumer market. An item that is unique and rare is much more highly valued than an item that has been reproduced over and over again. For example, if there is a limited edition version of an item it may have much higher value than an item that is equal in quality and design.
(http://imgkid.com/robot-human-hand.shtml)
In relation to robotics I feel that the idea of losing originality and authenticity is a real fear. A movie that this made me think of is The Machine, which is a movie related to artificial intelligence and is quite frightening to think about in this context. Robots can only act based on what they are programmed to do, but could there be a real loss of creativity with widespread use of robotics? I first began to look in to exactly how one is to define creativity. Stevan Harnad from the University of Southampton in the UK defines creativity as, "a phenomenon with both external and internal constraints". With this being said is it even possible to replicate this internal trait of creativity? But if one day it is possible this could have detrimental effects on art. However, ensuring that with the continuous production and advancement of robotics that art is still present will be helpful in combating this issue.
(http://www.fubiz.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Robot-Painting1.jpg)
I read an extremely fascinating article about the idea of artificial creativity, and it stated that the more we learn the more we are able to break it down and apply it to robots. In this case there are examples of robots that are able to create music, write and even paint. It seems as though robotics is moving in a direction that would allow for artificial creativity to become a reality.
Works Cited:
-Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." 1936. Print.
-Harnad, Stevan. "Creativity: Method of Magic?" University of Southampton. Web. 19 April 2015. -Holmes, Kevin. "e-David: A Painting Robot That Can Even Sign Its Own Name." The Creators Project. Web. 19 April 2015.
-Merrill, Brad. "It's Happening: Robots May Be the Creative Artists of the Future." Future Tech. 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 April 2015
-Vesna, Victoria. "Lecture Part 1." UCLA. Web. 19 April 2015.
Great post Julia!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few very interesting cases of AI (or "artificial creativity" as you mentioned) in art. One very famous one is by the artist / programmer Harold Cohen. His painting machine AARON is one of the first software programs that can create original works of art by itself.
Though even the artist itself claims AARON isn't exactly "creative", it is able to create one of a kind pieces, so how could one build a machine that crosses that threshold?
I liked how you brought up the example of how a limited edition item is worth much more than something that is reproduced over and over again. Maybe it is the essence of its originality and how it can't be replaced that makes it so valuable.
ReplyDeleteYour point about artificial creativity becoming a reality is extremely interesting -- I agree that that is a very real possibility in the near future. I had no idea that there were robots already that can create art, such as music. It's interesting to think about where this may lead in the future. While creative robots making masterpieces or hit songs would be much easier for the music industry (think: a scientific formula that guarantees a good song), I am not quite sure how that would bode among audiences. I feel that the way people are today shows that not only do we enjoy music, but we are also equally invested in the performer. We idolize these musicians and turn them into celebrities, and closely follow their outfits, looks, and personal lives. If artificial creativity becomes a reality and robots do the bulk of the work, who are we to look to? It's hard to imagine people being in awe of a robotic performance, as there is nothing necessarily special or human about it.
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