Week 3: Robotics + Art (Industrialization)

Image 1: Johannes Gutenberg, Printing Press. 

The Industrial revolution made room for large jump mechanization and mass production.  In lecture 1, Vesna mentions that "the printing press was the beginning of the assembly line production." The invention of the printing press, marks the beginning of assembly line manufacturing.  When I first learned about assembly line manufacturing, I always viewed the assembly in a positive light and that it was an incredible step forward, which it was.

Image 2: Henry Ford Model-T Assembly Line

However, after reading The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, by Walter Benjamin, it gave me insight to the negative aspects of assembly line manufacturing. "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. This unique existence of the work of art determined the history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence."  I couldn't agree more with what he means by unique existence. Mass produced items don't carry the finesse of the original. In our modern society, we take items that are mass produced for granted.

Image 3: The Art Assembly Line

In Davis's Evolving Thesis, from Benjamin's work, he claimed "there is no clear conceptual distinction between original and reproduction in virtually any medium, based in film, electronics, or telecommunications.  As for the fine arts, the distinction is eroding, if not finally collapsed." The excitement and respect of an original piece has greatly lessened.  With reproduction, anyone can get their hands on virtually anything.

In the years since the Industrial Revolution, technology has come a long way with the introduction of robotics. " General Motors installed its own robotic arm to assist in the assembly line in 1961...these robots would help improve efficiency and increase productivity" (Corday).  There's a lot to be said about the benefits of robotics.  However it decreases authenticity.

In my research on robotics and art, I stumbled upon this video shown below.  I was amazed that a robot could be programmed to create art in this form.  I find art to be more impressive when done by a human. Even though this robot is copying the strokes of a human, it takes away the authenticity of how it was made in the moment.

References:

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. "Stardom and Celebrity: A Reader (1936): 25-33. Print.

Corday, Robert, "The Evolution of Assembly Lines: A Brief History." Robohub. N.p., 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.robohub.org/the-evolutionof-assembly-lines-a-brief-history/>.

Davis, Douglas. "The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction (An Evolving Thesis: 1991-1995)." Leonardo 28.5 (1995): 381-86. Print.

Ford Model-T Assembly Line. Digital Image. Here and Now. N.p., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://hereandnow.legacy.wbur.org/2013/10/16/assembly-line-anniversary>.

Industrialization, Robotis, Kinetics/Robotic Art. Victoria Vesna. YouTube. N.p., 15 Apr, 2012. Web, 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.youtube.come/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew>.

Johannes Gutenberg, Printing Press. Digital image. Thelibrary.org. N.p., 8 June 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://thelibrary.org/blogs/artical.cfm?aid=2327>.

RobotArt - Albert Einstein. MingJyun Hung. YouTube. N.p., 11 Apr. 2016. Web. 22 Apr. 2017. <http://www.youtube.come/watch?v=nDp124yDr14>.

Sesser, Stan. The Art Assembly Line. Digital Image. The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 3 June 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/Sb10001424052702303745304576357681741418282>.