Past Present Future Thinking About Thinking Machines: Metropolis
15 snips
Sep 22, 2024 
In this discussion, philosopher Shannon Vallor, a program director at the Edinburgh Futures Institute and author of "The AI Mirror," unpacks Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking 1927 film, Metropolis. She highlights the film's prophetic themes about humanity's relationship with technology and its emotional center, represented by the dual character of Maria. Vallor explores issues of dehumanization in mechanized societies, critiques of capitalist exploitation, and the ethical implications of AI, drawing parallels with historical ideologies and contemporary labor debates.
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Robotic Acting in a Futuristic Film
- Metropolis, a silent film, portrays a futuristic world with robots.
- This creates a unique contrast, as the acting style of silent films is inherently exaggerated and robotic.
Sinister Movements of the Robot Maria
- Robotic movements in Metropolis are not emotionless and rigid as we might expect.
- Instead, they are portrayed as jerky, exaggerated, sinister, and almost manipulative.
Dual Role of the Robot Maria
- In Metropolis, the robot Maria fulfills two roles: the oppressed human Maria and a deceptive tool.
- This duality raises questions about the nature of robots and their capacity to mimic humans.
