THE CONCEPT OF “UNCANNY VALLEY” IN THE CULTURAL DIMENSION

Abstract

The article relevance is determined by the fact that innovative technical devices are increasingly integrated into human everyday routine. As progress gains momentum and a robotic copy of oneself is created, an individual becomes increasingly afraid and anxious. The study relies on general and specific techniques, in particular, analysis, synthesis, descriptive method, etc. The author uses the concept of uncanny valley introduced by professor Masahiro Mori to define a fear of innovative technologies. A review of the conceptual development based on the works of Tyler J. Burley, Jordan R. Schenger and Guy L. Lacroix, A. Tinwell and M. Grimshaw has been conducted. It has been considered the concepts stating that emerging machines change human uniqueness (Kaplan), differences between humans and robots (McDorman and Entensari), intense sense of threat to human uniqueness and identity by giving an anthropomorphic appearance to a robotic organism (Ferrari, Paladino and Jetten). The practical significance of the paper is supported by the option of using it at lectures and seminars on cultural studies, philosophy of culture, aesthetics, etc.