This week, Professor Vesna provided insights on how robotics and science influenced art. She explained how the idea of the robot came from theater as a response to the mechanization of labor and brought up examples of many of Charlie Chaplin's movies, including Modern Times and Metropolis. One example referenced in the lecture that I found captivating was Blade Runner. Reason being, I have seen the original as well as the remake released in 2017. I did not realize until Professor Vesna pointed it out, that theater really did inspire robotics through the limitless power of imagination. In the case of Blade Runner, the movie depicted replicants (bio-engineered humans) which are essentially cyborgs - a combination of human and robotic parts as seen here:
Through Blade Runner as well as other movies set in the future, one can see the advancement of technology (as portrayed in movies) as having a negative affect on mankind. This can be seen through the dark, mysterious, and ominous imagery in Blade Runner seen here:
In my opinion, it seems like the screenwriters of futuristic movies are trying to create irony since the advancement of technology is supposed to (in theory) help the world, but actually (at least in the movies referenced) causes people to have less empathy and overall become less human.
I also learned that Leonardo Da Vinci created the first automaton, a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being, which was a predecessor to robots. In the late 1400s, Da Vinci created an automaton for King Louis XII which can be seen here:
Many other scientist played a crucial role in the history of robotics. Nikola Tesla, for example played a vital role in the development of robotics through his discoveries in the field of electromagnetism which form the basis of wireless communication we see today. In addition, Alan Turing, an English mathematician and computer scientist, worked on algorithms and computation which led to the creation of the Turing machine during the Cold War Era. Today, Turing is accredited as the father of artificial intelligence.
Overall, the relationship between robotics and art is quite unique when looked at in depth. It's interesting how art almost laid the foundation or at least proposed the idea for much of robotics.
Works Cited
“Automaton.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automaton.
“Blade Runner 2049.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_2049.
Hodges, Andrew. Alan Turing - a Short Biography, 1995, www.turing.org.uk/publications/dnb.html.
“Nikola Tesla.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/inventions/nikola-tesla.
“The Robots.” The Robots, Leonardo Da Vinci Robot Society, 2018, www.leonardorobotsociety.org/the-robots.html.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt1.” YouTube, UC Online, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, UC Online, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt3.” YouTube, UC Online, 16 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkP7oSZVkbg.
Through Blade Runner as well as other movies set in the future, one can see the advancement of technology (as portrayed in movies) as having a negative affect on mankind. This can be seen through the dark, mysterious, and ominous imagery in Blade Runner seen here:
In my opinion, it seems like the screenwriters of futuristic movies are trying to create irony since the advancement of technology is supposed to (in theory) help the world, but actually (at least in the movies referenced) causes people to have less empathy and overall become less human.
I also learned that Leonardo Da Vinci created the first automaton, a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being, which was a predecessor to robots. In the late 1400s, Da Vinci created an automaton for King Louis XII which can be seen here:
Many other scientist played a crucial role in the history of robotics. Nikola Tesla, for example played a vital role in the development of robotics through his discoveries in the field of electromagnetism which form the basis of wireless communication we see today. In addition, Alan Turing, an English mathematician and computer scientist, worked on algorithms and computation which led to the creation of the Turing machine during the Cold War Era. Today, Turing is accredited as the father of artificial intelligence.
Overall, the relationship between robotics and art is quite unique when looked at in depth. It's interesting how art almost laid the foundation or at least proposed the idea for much of robotics.
Works Cited
“Automaton.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automaton.
“Blade Runner 2049.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner_2049.
Hodges, Andrew. Alan Turing - a Short Biography, 1995, www.turing.org.uk/publications/dnb.html.
“Nikola Tesla.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/inventions/nikola-tesla.
“The Robots.” The Robots, Leonardo Da Vinci Robot Society, 2018, www.leonardorobotsociety.org/the-robots.html.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt1.” YouTube, UC Online, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt2.” YouTube, UC Online, 15 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk.
Vesna, Victoria. “Robotics pt3.” YouTube, UC Online, 16 Apr. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkP7oSZVkbg.
Hi Numair,
ReplyDeleteGreat points all around. I have never seen Blade Runner, but your commentary solidifies professor's comments about it being a great movie to see concerning the topic of this unit in class. I thought the automaton was interesting as well.