ROBOTICS + ART

Throughout history, the relationship between art, technology, and knowledge production has been fascinating for me. I’ve utilized technology myself for artistic pursuits and created a small business by offering my graphic design skills to others. The use of technology dates all the way back to the invention of the printing press, as highlighted by Professor Vesna as an idea pre-dating 400 years back, to the current age of robotics and artificial intelligence, and it’s allowed for the dissemination of knowledge on a scale that was once unimaginable. As expressed by philosopher Walter Benjamin, technology comes with its pros and cons, emphasizing accessibility and authenticity respectively. 

Printing Press


One of the key themes this week was the idea of knowledge production. This concept highlights the power of technology to spread information at a greater scale. The printing press represents a critical moment in history for production. It made it possible to produce books, paving the way for the development of education. Something that reminds me of this is the Uncensored Library, a Minecraft server. Created by Reporters Without Borders (RWB), this project provides access to knowledge that may be banned in certain countries. This library was built in Minecraft, a creative platform that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. Its popularity and accessibility make it an ideal platform to combat censorship.


The Uncensored Library by Reporters Without Borders


This project is a demonstration of the power of technology and art to promote knowledge. They also addressed the issue of authenticity in the digital age. RWB utilizes decentralized blockchain technology to protect the authenticity and integrity of the materials, so the books cannot be tampered with.


Uncensored Library and Censorship

The idea of knowledge production powered by technology reminds me of the documentary The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz. It follows the life of Aaron Swartz, a programmer, who advocated for technology in changing the world. He held a great belief for the free exchange of knowledge and information, and using the internet as a tool to do so. He was behind the creation of many internet technologies that are now platforms for various art and information, including Reddit and Creative Commons. However, he received scrutiny from the government prosecutors, who charged him with multiple felonies.


The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz


Technology continues to play a crucial role in shaping the way we produce knowledge. While advancements like the printing press and the internet have revolutionized information access, they’ve raised concerns about authenticity. However, projects like Uncensored Library demonstrate how technology and art can be used for the greater good.




Sources

Text:


Alvarez, Maximillian. “'The Government Killed Him': A Tribute to Activist and Programmer Aaron Swartz 10 Years after His Death.” The Real News Network, 1 Feb. 2023, therealnews.com/the-government-killed-him-a-tribute-to-activist-and-programmer-aaron-swartz-10-years-after-his-death. 


Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Translated by J. A. Underwood, Penguin Books, 2008.

Finney, Alice. “Minecraft Library Provides Gamers with ‘a Safe Haven for Press Freedom.’” Dezeen, 17 Aug. 2021, https://www.dezeen.com/2021/08/17/uncensored-library-reporters-without-borders-minecraft-censored-books/. 

Maher, Cian. “This Minecraft Library Is Making Censored Journalism Accessible All over the World.” The Verge, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21184041/minecraft-library-censored-journalism-reporters-without-borders. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic and Robotic Art.” DESMA 9.  https://bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/160989/pages/unit-3-view?module_item_id=5946326. Accessed 19 April 2023


Images:

BlockWorks. “The Uncensored Library.” Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7j-Ynup6BM. 

History.com Editors. “Printing Press.” History, 10 Oct. 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/printing-press. 

Ozkiral, Alijan. “The Uncensored Library as Remediated Space.” Stonybrook, 8 May 2020, https://you.stonybrook.edu/alijan614blog/2020/05/08/the-uncensored-library-as-remediated-space/. 

Tallerico, Brian. “The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz.” Roger Ebert, 27 June 2014, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3268458/.

Comments

  1. Sofia BuxtonApril 21, 2023 at 4:53 PM

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  2. Sofia BuxtonApril 21, 2023 at 4:55 PM

    Winzel,

    I enjoyed reading your blog and learning about some of the benefits of combining technology and art. I particularly appreciated your point about art and technology's power of promoting knowledge. I hadn't thought about how the combination of these two things can not only inspire us to be creative, but can also teach us about history, math, science, or anything in between. I think that technology can facilitate learning and make learning and art more accessible. I wonder if and how technology will change the boundaries of art in the future. Thanks for a very insightful post!

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