“Alluring Androids And Robots” Slide Lecture Presented At Community Club

Ruth La Bosco, co-chairman of General Program with our speaker, Dr. Julie Wosk and Community Club President Emily Sair The Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead warmly welcomed Dr. Julie Wosk, Professor of Art History, Studio Art and English at the State University of New York’s Maritime College, to its February 3, 2010 general program held at the Garden City Casino. Dr. Wosk presented a most timely and interesting lecture and slide show entitled, “Alluring Androids and Robots in film, photography and art.”

Dr. Wosk is the author of the books, “Women and Machines: Representations from the Spinning Wheel to the Electronic Age” and “Breaking Frame: Technology and the Visual Arts in the Nineteenth Century” as well as numerous other articles and reviews.

The illustrated slide lecture showcased colorful images of female robots, androids, talking dolls, mannequins and other artificial women ranging from early automaton to lifelike female heroines from todays video games. These images tell a startling tale of changing attitudes toward science and towards women themselves, according to Dr. Wosk. Filmmakers, artists and photographers have long been fascinated by the idea of artificial women that seem alive. The latest in female Japanese Robots look so real they can easily fool the eye.

Hospitality chairman Phyllis Dima viewing the many different Robots on display that are only a small part of the huge doll collection belonging to club historian, Jo Krawczyk (R) The virtual women also raise provocative new questions: Do men and women each view female robots differently? How do these images reveal men’s fantasies and fears about women? What happens when we can no longer tell the difference between an artificial woman (or man) and a real one? Will these ultra-realistic robots enhance our lives or challenge our humanity? Only the future will tell. All in all it was a highly entertaining and educational lecture that left us with much to ponder. Dr. Wosk is a fascinating speaker who charmed us all. A lively question and answer period followed the program.

More Robots adorned the tea table along with beautiful red roses for Valentine’s Day and all were admired by studio chairman Louise Abitabile, second vice-president Ann Heinzelmann and past president Marye Heston Prior to the start of the lecture, President Emily Sair held a brief business meeting during which the minutes of the previous meeting were read by Recording Secretary Michelle Weisburg and Treasurer Carolyn Kaiser gave her report. President Sair then thanked Ann Paulson, Grace Christian-Murphy, Ann Senchyhyn and all the members of their committee for the outstanding job they had done in making our January bridge such a success. Marge Goldsmith gave a brief history of our piano, which once graced a Vanderbilt mansion, and announced that Paula Rega would entertain us on the piano during the tea hour. Anne-Marie Smith of the General Program Committee then introduced our speaker, Dr. Julie Wosk.

Our next general program will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 and will feature amateur astronomer Bill Bradley who will speak on “Celestial Highlights.” Please be sure to join us then.

For more information on the Community Club, its vast array of interesting and informative programs, trips and fine art classes and how you may become a member, please call out office at 516-746-0488 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.