The Sandman, a short film by Rich Ragsdale

A short film done in the style of a german expressionist silent film. It is meant to illustrate Freud’s theory of “the uncanny” which is based on ETA Hoffmann’s short story “the Sandman”. It is a work in progress. The final version of this is currently making festival rounds right now, including the Short Film Corner in Cannes, and the Nashville international Film Festival.

for more info on Rich Ragsdale search google

Yasutaro Mitsui with his own steel humanoid, early ’30s.

http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/009467.php

Via Hugo Strikes Back (information about the picture found in Book review: Loving The Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots.)via we make money not art

Paul Granjon’s Sexed Robots 2005

The sexed robots are autonomous wheeled platforms fitted with nylon genital organs, respectively male and female.

They are programmed to explore their environment, occasionally entering a “in heat” mode, where they will try and locate a partner in the same state. If a partner is located, the robots will attempt to mate.

The Sexed robots were commissioned for the exhibition Somewhere else, Welsh pavilion, Venice Biennale 2005.

http://www.zprod.org/PG/machines/sexedRobots.htm