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

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 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?