Week 3: Robotics + Art

Week 3

Although the invention of the printing press is commonly credited to Johannes Gutenberg it actually originated 400 years prior in China. Gutenberg however, did bring the printing press to the west which catapulted a period that was characterized by the “rapid dispersion of knowledge,” (Vesna 2012) that completely redefined the way that knowledge could be accessed by the ordinary individual. It inaugurated a cultural shift to mass production, one in which important texts such as the bible could be attained by anyone

It also was one of the key factors that made movements such as the Reformation possible as it allowed people to “shape and channel mass movement in ideas,” (McFadden 2018) and thus weakening the Catholic church’s stranglehold of private materials.

While one may think that mass production is extremely beneficial for society, that is not always the case, as illustrated by Walter Benjamin in his essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”. Benjamin argues that mechanical production destroys the authenticity that makes art so unique to the individual. As he puts it, “The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity,” (Benjamin 1936) meaning that the ability of art to be so easily reproduced, causes a depreciation of its origin and its importance to that specific time or tradition.

 

Douglas argues something in a similar vein calling the original piece and its subsequent copies as being “so entwined with each other that it is impossible to say where one begins and the other ends” (Douglas 1995) demonstrating how mass production has caused once authentic art to lose its uniqueness, as further copies can be made that are exactly of the same quality if not higher.

 


Despite this, the industrial era did have some positives, particularly by releasing art from “its aristocratic and courtly iron grip,” (st-Art 2021) and allowing the general public to engage and discuss pieces that had once only been reserved for the eyes of the elite. Art is not just something to be looked at by the wealthy; it can serve as a record of past events, a bridge between different cultures, and even an instigator for social change (Jangid 2022). For instance, the government of India uses murals to warn against “open defecation” highlighting how widespread art can contribute to creating a better society.

 

Sources:


Vesna, Victoria. Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/ robotic art lecture part 1. 2012, https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=6671238

Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.”

Davis, Douglas. "The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction: An Evolving Thesis: 1991–1995." Leonardo 28.5 (1995): 381-386.

st-Art. “Influence of the Industrial Revolution on Art.” st-Art, 20 May 2021, https://st-artamsterdam.com/industrial-revolution-the-influence-on-art/. Accessed 19 April 2024

Jangid, Sanjay. “The Significant Role of Art in Shaping Our Society - Chitkara University.” Chitkara University | Blogs, 9 Feb. 2023, www.chitkara.edu.in/blogs/the-significant-role-of-art-in-shaping-our-society/.

McFadden, Christopher. “The Complete Story behind the Invention and History of the Printing Press.” Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2023, interestingengineering.com/innovation/the-invention-and-history-of-the-printing-press.

Lee, Alexander. “The War against Printing.” Engelsberg Ideas, engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-war-against-printing/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Bolter, Jay. How the elite lost control of art. 28 Apr. 2019. Salon, https://www.salon.com/2019/04/28/how-the-elite-lost-control-of-art/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Smyth, Sara. Sounds like easel-money! Artist recreates and sells copies of classic masterpieces including Girl with a Pearl Earring for £1,200 each. 16 Aug. 2013. Daily Mail , https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2395839/Sounds-like-easel-money-Artist-recreates-sells-copies-classic-masterpieces-including-Girl-Pearl-Earring-1-200-each.html. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.


 


Comments

  1. Tannen Vagle DESMA9 VlogApril 21, 2024 at 7:04 PM

    Hey Tristan,

    Really enjoyed reading your blog and like how you were able to highlight the cultivation of knowledge and how it affected industrialization expeccially in the art space. I personally wrote how this negatively affected Art but enjoyed seeing a contrasting perspective that proves there will always be pros and cons to industrialization. Furthermore, I think the printing press was also very revolutionary and allowed religion to be more accessible through the bible and other religious texts. The printing press was the West's first push into industrialization and the presence of communication being more mainstream and welcomed. Overall it was great blog that was able to mesh all the points were learned this week cohesively.

    ReplyDelete

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