I just would like to update my inititial response.
I had joined the team at my school because I thought it was interesting and cool.
But now that I have been with FIRST for a couple of years, and I actually just wrote an application essay for a college about robotics, I have come to realize that I had really joined because of my background and experiences. My father has been a carpenter since before I was born. So, I was always helpnig him out with projects and what not. I also had gotten a lot of exposure to art.
I guess it was a combination of the two that lead me to my belief that robots are a piece of art.
I am Mechanical Manager for the second year in a row with the team and I get more and more enthused about teaching the new FIRSTers on our team about the art of robot building.
I think that everything is some art form.
FIRST is just a great way for thinking/tech artists to show off their skills.
Just like an artist (visual) can't put on a performance, but can only display his/her artwork, our competitions are just like showcases for our artwork.
We get to interact with it, but it is still kind of like showing it off.
I think that is why I really got into robotics.
((Also to play with legos as a teenager))
lol
to show off my artwork.