Week 3: Robotics + Art

A huge transformation to the artistic world is Industrialization. Due to the industrialization boom, technology has developed and will continue to flourish due to it constantly revolutionizing. Specifically, Professor Vesna mentions the first printing press and how it changed society by its ability to create letters and blocks with words as their “printer.” Over time, the printing press revolutionized into the typewriter, which then again evolved into modern-day printers that can be used to print from a computer.

Another important product of industrialization would be the Camera. Due to its ability to capture beautiful scenery, historical evidence such as places or monuments, or just everyday life of people, the camera has turned photographs into art and memories. Although the camera was an amazing result of industrialization, printing of photographs becomes an issue with cameras. According to Walter Benjamin’s book, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” he argues that the mechanical reproduction of an image or art diminishes the “aura” or originality of the photo. Benjamin signifies that taking a photo of an original copy and reproducing it lowers the quality of the work. In a perfect world, Benjamin believes a painting has aura due to its originality of being one of one. However, Industrialization produces artists like Mr. Brainwash, who’s a street artist that basically replicates other artist ideas and prints multiple copies of them for revenue. In this sense, Benjamin believes that mechanical reproduction is diminishing the quality of art that was once before. I agree with Benjamin due to the aura of an original piece due to the Mona Lisa being praised for it’s true copy; however, I believe industrialization allows art to culturally spread throughout due to most people may not have accessibility to art. By allowing a reproduction of it, art can create unity among all classes.

REFRENCES

“Mr. Brainwash/ Shepard Fairey - What Is Art?” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Apr. 2011, Web. 30 Apr. 2018. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0adwfovBh2I.

"Summary: The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Introducing the Frankfurt School. 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2018. <https://frankfurtschool.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/summary-the-work-of-art-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/>.

Uconlineprogram. "Robotics Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2018. 

Uconlineprogram. "Robotics Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2018. 

Uconlineprogram. "Robotics Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2018.