Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?

This paper examines the liveness of the performative acts of technologically simulated or synthesized agents in interaction with humans. It questions the ability of artificial performers to construct a sense of live presence on stage and in other daily performative scenarios and evaluates our percep...

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Main Author: Sahar Sajadieh
Format: Article
Language:Catalan
Published: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya 2023-07-01
Series:Artnodes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://raco.cat/index.php/Artnodes/article/view/412093
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author Sahar Sajadieh
author_facet Sahar Sajadieh
author_sort Sahar Sajadieh
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the liveness of the performative acts of technologically simulated or synthesized agents in interaction with humans. It questions the ability of artificial performers to construct a sense of live presence on stage and in other daily performative scenarios and evaluates our perception of liveness in those contexts. In this critical and comparative analysis, I study the live quality of Hatsune Miku’s live musical performances – a computer-generated cyber celebrity with a three-dimensional holographic body and an artificially synthesized singing voice – and the stimulating interactions of PARO, the seal – an adorable therapeutic cuddle-robot utilized as an emotional companion in nursing homes and hospitals. Using performance and media theories, I examine the audience/users’ affective responses and engagement quality with the holographic singer and the robotic pet, directly leading to the acceptance or rejection of the claim to the liveness of these techno-actors. This research also evaluates the impact of the application of cuteness (or kawaii) in designing non-human agents versus the emergence of creepiness in interactions with their incorporeal bodies on our emotive response. The objective is to study the difference between the liveness and aliveness of non-human, non-living performing agents and the impact of evoking the sense of “cute” versus “creepy” on warping the Uncanny Valley Curve.
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spelling doaj.art-acab5fe39be84b4daeedcffa4cc70f062023-07-28T19:57:05ZcatUniversitat Oberta de CatalunyaArtnodes1695-59512023-07-013210.7238/artnodes.v0i32.412093Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?Sahar Sajadieh0Department of Visual Arts, University of California, San DiegoThis paper examines the liveness of the performative acts of technologically simulated or synthesized agents in interaction with humans. It questions the ability of artificial performers to construct a sense of live presence on stage and in other daily performative scenarios and evaluates our perception of liveness in those contexts. In this critical and comparative analysis, I study the live quality of Hatsune Miku’s live musical performances – a computer-generated cyber celebrity with a three-dimensional holographic body and an artificially synthesized singing voice – and the stimulating interactions of PARO, the seal – an adorable therapeutic cuddle-robot utilized as an emotional companion in nursing homes and hospitals. Using performance and media theories, I examine the audience/users’ affective responses and engagement quality with the holographic singer and the robotic pet, directly leading to the acceptance or rejection of the claim to the liveness of these techno-actors. This research also evaluates the impact of the application of cuteness (or kawaii) in designing non-human agents versus the emergence of creepiness in interactions with their incorporeal bodies on our emotive response. The objective is to study the difference between the liveness and aliveness of non-human, non-living performing agents and the impact of evoking the sense of “cute” versus “creepy” on warping the Uncanny Valley Curve. https://raco.cat/index.php/Artnodes/article/view/412093techno-livenesstechno-actorkawaiilivenessdigital performerscomputer-generated artificial actors
spellingShingle Sahar Sajadieh
Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
Artnodes
techno-liveness
techno-actor
kawaii
liveness
digital performers
computer-generated artificial actors
title Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
title_full Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
title_fullStr Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
title_full_unstemmed Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
title_short Cute or creepy, that is the question of liveness: can artificial actors perform live?
title_sort cute or creepy that is the question of liveness can artificial actors perform live
topic techno-liveness
techno-actor
kawaii
liveness
digital performers
computer-generated artificial actors
url https://raco.cat/index.php/Artnodes/article/view/412093
work_keys_str_mv AT saharsajadieh cuteorcreepythatisthequestionoflivenesscanartificialactorsperformlive