Survival Research Laboratories Essay

Afyter looking at alot of the Survival Research Laoratories pieces i realized i couldnt really tell how it looked like fantasy. Instantly, i had a closed mind and did not view there work as art. I just viewed it as robot wars. But nowadays anything can be art in some form or fashion so i looked up other things that are a form of to help me relate to the SRL pieces. The SRL pieces remind me this : An metal machine war verus human survival apocalypse. The same fantasy exsists in movies such as Nine and the Matirx. The performance that SRL give are very very similar to the performances given when you watch any robot war game shows or competitions. The big difference between the two is that the SRL targets artists, so the main feel and mood that is radiating from the performance is that of art. Where as robot wars, the feeling of i have to win and rivalry are being emited. THe way in which both of these performances are similar is that the two different feelings that are emphaized are shown in their oppoistes. Meaning, that the performance which is to be viewed as art also has a competivite edge to it. As a viewer you pick a robot you naturally want to win. And the robots are fighting or destroying each in other in some way. In the performance where it is a war or competition also has alot of art in it. The way the robot was painted, made, structured can be very unique and beautiful. Also at the end, the mess that was made and all the parts left on the floor can be unique in its self and be viewed as art. I disagree strongy with the idea that SRL is promoting mechanical violence. All robots that are made have the potential to be violent. Guns and lasers are machines and their only purpose is violences. Therefore, SRL is not prmoting machine violence beacuase of what they chose to do with there pieces. Also, the term "yanks with tanks" is used n german armies mainly. So to refer to SRL as "Yank with tanks" is senseless. The reason i think SRL is not stageing their performances in the middle east is obvious. SRL build machines that can be used for multiple things such as artistic destruction. To display that in the middle east, hte SRL group would not get a reaction such as "wow. art." it would be viewed as a possible threat. Therefore, if SRL stays within their demographic and a public group that knows about SRL they will have a better opportunity to get a reaction they are looking for. There Aduience would most likly include robot war patron and any local artisit or body of people that have some familiarity with SRL. I don't think some random person that has never had a intrest in SRL, robot or Robot wars would take the time out to go and see a show where they will have no idea what is going on.