Glados: Villain & Reluctant Mother

GLaDOS: Villain & 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 on Feminine

• Victim or Villain? – Out of control female, augmented to control her – Created by men, in a science facility Venus? Or Bondage?

/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 sexuality 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?