CSI has managed to bring to production a modern adaptation of a 20th century science fiction ” Slight Spoilers ahead”

by Michael Levitas

The Drama Program here at CSI has managed to create a new and vibrant interpretation of a science fiction play named Rossum’s Universal Robots. Directed by Ochanya Itodo, Rossum’s Universal Robots is a play written by Czech writer Karel Čapek. It is an influential piece of science fiction, surprisingly introducing the term “robot” into science fiction and the English language. The term “robot” comes from the Czech word “robota,” which means serf or forced labor. The play premiered and will run from November 16 to November 18.

The story of Rossum’s Universal Robots follows Harry Domin, played by Christian Martinez. Domin is the general manager of a factory that produces artificial beings called robots. Domin meets Helena Glory, played by Huma Ahmad, the daughter of President Glory. The story eventually unravels, revealing the unintended consequences of creating robots to replace human labor.

The production itself was great. The cast and crew did a nice job with the set design and costumes. The performances by the cast were solid, especially Regan Sou, who played the robot Radius. His performance managed to capture the cognitive dissonance of a being that is artificial but is developing human traits. The director also managed to modernize the play, incorporating modern colloquial language with language from the 1920s.

Reading the Director’s Notes, it mentions the socio-historical conditions surrounding Rossum’s Universal Robots. The world was mourning the losses of World War I, and the Russian Revolution emerged successfully. Many were worried about the advancing rate of technology and machinery. World War I was the most bloody conflict, with entire generations being totally wiped out. Karel Čapek’s play reflected this growing anxiety that one day artificial beings and technology might overpower or eliminate human beings.

The play is very much a critique of a profit-driven system where technology is used as a means to an end. One of the characters even suggests subjecting robots to pain simply to reduce robots’ damages and accidents. Robots are preferred to regular workers because they produce twice as much for half the cost. They are denied any agency and are even mocked for not having a soul. The managers are only concerned with how work can be done in the cheapest way possible.  Čapek shows us how this mindset is at the expense of humanity’s wellbeing

Čapek also portrays the opposing side. The justification for robots is pushed forward by an optimistic message: that humanity will be freed from labor. All of the hard work will be done by robots, and humanity will be able to pursue what they actually desire. Čapek criticizes this viewpoint throughout the play. As robots progress, they develop more human characteristics. The artificial becomes more real  than the real. Harry Domin states clearly that ‘no one hates man more than man.’ This line is an internal critique by Čapek of man’s constant exploitation and domination that led to events such as World War I. Robot dehumanization is also an allegory for how humans were being dehumanized in the workplace, subjected repeatedly to the assembly line. If you constantly subject a group to dehumanization they will rise up.

In conclusion despite being being written more than hundred years ago; RUR (Rossum’s Universal Robots) does not feel outdated or antiquated.  We can learn from  Čapek message in the era of artificial intelligence.  Humanity should be careful trying to deify the laws of nature. Machinery is also an externalization of human thoughts or images. We should reflect that often how view machinery is often no different than we treat other human beings; constantly seeking to dominate or dehumanize. Lets continue to avoid this.