Throughout Vesna’s lecture of week 3, I learned how technology like
robots is connected with industrialization, and how mass production affects the
art and our life.
In the article “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical
Reproduction”, the author Walter Benjamin pointed out that the technology of
the reproduction influenced works of the art and the film. "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.
(1)" By mass production, we are not likely to regard the art and film as
the value of originality or tradition.
I agree with his perspective, but I suggest that we have to make “uniqueness”
beyond mass production. I have a good example for relations between human and
robots. In the lecture, the guest speaker Machiko Kusahara mentioned that the
robot value is very different between Japan and Western countries. The
Westerners seem to regard the robot as an “evil”, yet in my home country Japan,
there are many people who think that the robots are “our friend” like what she
pointed out.
For example, in Japan, the robot dog AIBO by Sony was very popular fifteen
years ago, and then there were many people who bought it which costs ¥250,000(about $2,083) in the
first generation. Although it was very expensive as the toy, it sold out
within 20 minutes (TOKYOITE). In the term of Art, people liked the design of AIBO like the curve and the texture.
I heard the news that Japanese who owned AIBO felt shocked because
the Sony stopped the repair services for the AIBO. At that time, they must hold
the funeral of AIBO like the picture below.
This incident makes me understand that AIBO must be “special” like
their family. For me, the concept of “special” is equal with “uniqueness”. Even
though AIBO was made by mass production, many Japanese have loved AIBO. It must
be the unique existence for them.
Throughout this lecture, I got the chance to think about the
relations between Human and the robots which combined the science with the art.
Recently, there are many people, particularly Westerners who are suspicious
about the robots because they can take the jobs away from human. However, I
feel that the robot must be “our friend and partner” like AIBO. The robots have
the abilities to solve our social issues such as caring for elder or
challenging the disaster. They can help human from the excruciating
circumstances. We should focus on how we can make good relations, not see the
robots pessimistically. And, we should not forget that the art always becomes the significant element to fascinate people because the art creates uniqueness.
1. Benjamin, Walter. “The work of art in the age of mechanical
reproduction.” London: Penguin, 1936. Print.
2. uconlineprogram. “Robotics
Machiko Kusahara 1.” Youtube. Youtube.
14 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=246&v=xQZ_sy-mdEU
>
3. “Is Sony cruel for stopping its ‘robot dog’ repair services?” TOKYOITE. Time Out Tokyo. 11 Nov. 2014.
Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
5. “Japan embraces robot dog funerals.” DIGITAL DYING BY: FUNERALWISE.COM. Funeralwise. 27 Feb. 2015. Web.
19 Apr. 2015.
< https://blogs.funeralwise.com/dying/2015/02/27/japan-embraces-robot-dog-funerals/
>
4. “Aibo ERS 7 Official Promo.” Youtube.
Youtube, 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
6. “Industrialization, Immigration, Unbanization.” History Through The Ages. Weebly. Web.
19 Apr. 2015.
7. “Walter Benjamin and The Effects of Reproduction.” Social Virion. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
8. Patrick J. Kiger. “10 Evil Robots Bent on Destroying Humanity.” Howstuffworks. Howstuffworks. 19
Apr.2015.
9. “DORAEMON.” Animation International
Ltd. Animation International Ltd. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
9. “Computers Know You Better Than Your Mates Do.” Huffington Post.
13 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
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