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GLaDOS : Villian & Reluctant Mother. Shannon Powell, Augusta Rawlins-Rader, Alex Miller, Paula Stevens. Portal. Quickly made, inexpensive “extra” game in the Orange Box Set Not meant to be marketed to a mass audience You only see glimpses of the character you control
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GLaDOS: Villian & Reluctant Mother Shannon Powell, Augusta Rawlins-Rader, Alex Miller, Paula Stevens
Portal • Quickly made, inexpensive “extra” game in the Orange Box Set • Not meant to be marketed to a mass audience • You only see glimpses of the character you control • She (Chell) never speaks
Aperture Science • Stark colors • Science facility = masculine • First person shooter • Puzzle solving
GLaDOS • Female, robotic AI • Only a voice • Starts off as guiding and nurturing • Ends up trying to kill you
Warm, Welcoming Character • “Spectacular” • “Speedy Things”
Passive Aggressive, Manipulative • Gaining Your Independence • ‘Vital Organs’ • ‘Not monitored’ • ‘Promise not to lie again’
Trying to Kill You, Fails • ‘…then there will be cake’ • ‘ pretended we were going to kill you …’ • She starts pleading
Final Stand • “You broke my heart” • Morality Core
Portal 2, Caroline • “Yes Sir!” • “I don’t want this!”
Masculine Effect of Feminine • Victim or Villain? • Out of control female, augmented to control her • Created by men, in a science facility
/discuss • Given the fact that she exhibits so many female stereotypes in both games, would you consider GLaDOS to be a stereotypical female character? • Do you think that the small design staff of the first game influenced the richness and complexity of GLaDOS’ character & femininity? • What is the symbolism of GLaDOS becoming sexualized near the end of Portal? Does her sexualization symbolize the breaking down of her “morality” and becoming a villain, or does it imply deeper definition of her femininity and character? • Does the fact that the main character of the game, Chell, is also a woman influence the ways the player can perceive GLaDOS’ character maternal qualities, and/or femininity? • Can you think of any other characters that have similar traits, narratives or back stories as GLaDOS?