When looking at the survival research laboratories work as works of fantasy, the fantasies they create are ones of futuristic machines and robots becoming intelligent and thinking for themselves. SRL's work plays off of peoples fear of machines and their possible A.I. surpassing that of our own. Several polls have been taken to see how the population "fears" machines and their growing intelligence. In these polls 17% of the 6000 people who voted in these polls stated that they did find the idea of intelligent machines frightening, 27% stated that they did not find the idea of intelligent machines frightening, and 56% stated that they were not scared of the intelligent machines, rather, they were afraid of how people would use the technology. SRL definitely plays on the fear of the use of technology due to the dangers and potential military application of the machines they create.
More mainstream forms of mechanical fantasy entertainment are more withdrawn and conservative compared to SRL's raw machines and raw destruction. Performances such as A.I. demonstrations create the same mechanical fantasy intelligence, however, they lack the raw destruction fear factor that srl does so well. Robots with flamethrowers, spinning blades for movement, and air cannons create a greater sense of fear than similar, mainstream performances.
SRL's mechanical performances articulate the same sense of fantasy as other performances, however, srl's type of performance is more in your face and also makes the audience feel like they are in danger with all this crazy destruction and machines rolling towards them.
I do consider srl to be "yanks with tanks", I do not consider what they do to be art, despite my interest in the mechanical genius they use to crest the performances. I think srl themselves critique violence by testing various ways to create unique and devious machines. However I belie e that with the scary looking and potentially hazardous machines make the audience promote violence for them.
Srl's audience are any person old enough to take enjoyment in the violence. Region of the audience would be chosen as Amsterdam because they are less strict than most other places and would let then do whatever as opposed to libya or afghanistan.
