Creative Action at a Distance: A Conceptual Framework for Embodied Performance With Robotic Actors

• Main Authors: Wicke, Philipp, Veale, Tony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30-04-2021
• Subjects: Computer Science - Robotics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2104.14801

Front. Robot. AI 8:662182 (2021) Acting, stand-up and dancing are creative, embodied performances that
nonetheless follow a script. Unless experimental or improvised, the performers
draw their movements from much the same stock of embodied schemas. A slavish
following of the script leaves no room for creativity, but active
interpretation of the script does. It is the choices one makes, of words and
actions, that make a performance creative. In this theory and hypothesis
article, we present a framework for performance and interpretation within
robotic storytelling. The performance framework is built upon movement theory,
and defines a taxonomy of basic schematic movements and the most important
gesture types. For the interpretation framework, we hypothesise that
emotionally-grounded choices can inform acts of metaphor and blending, to
elevate a scripted performance into a creative one. Theory and hypothesis are
each grounded in empirical research, and aim to provide resources for other
robotic studies of the creative use of movement and gestures.