Exploring the Uncanny: Ethical Case Studies in Artificial Bodies within Robotic Art and Performance
Keywords:
Artificial Bodies, Embedded Ethics, Robotic Art, Robotic Performance, The Uncanny ValleyAbstract
This paper examines the ethical implications of artificial limbs within the robotic art and performance framework, utilizing Kantian and Virtue ethics as analytical lenses. It begins by juxtaposing the concept of ‘The Uncanny’ with Post-humanism theory to discuss and compare three seminal works —Requiem (Roca, 1999), Inferno (Demers & Vorn, 2015), and Uncanny Valley (Keegi & Melle, 2023). These three study cases intersect technology and artistry, considering the body modification issue and the uncanny feeling that arises from altering or modifying the representation of the human body during performance. Therefore, ethical consideration naturally emerges to illuminate the responsibilities of artists and technologists in shaping the experiences of both the audience and participants. Thus, this discussion can contribute to the broader discourse on the ethical use of artificial elements in contemporary art.
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