- Have you ever wondered where our fascination and sometimes fear of artificial women comes from? According to Peterson (2023), this theme has a long and complex history, dating back to ancient Greek and Roman myths.
From Metropolis to Pandora's Box: The Artificial Woman on Screen and in Myth
Consider the example of Fritz Lang's iconic film Metropolis 1927, which features the android Maria, a dangerous and manipulative creation. This trope of the artificial woman as a femme fatale - a beautiful but deadly seductress - is a recurring theme. (Petersen, 2023)
Peterson (2023) reminds us that the story goes much further back:
- In Greek mythology, we encounter Pandora, crafted by Hephaestus to punish humanity.
- Pandora embodies a duality: both hope and evil unleashed upon the world.
The Pygmalion Paradox: Control, Creation, and the Fear of the Feminine
Another fascinating myth is the story of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his ivory statue, Galatea. Here, we see the male desire for control and creation. Pygmalion longs for a woman who perfectly embodies his desires, a woman he can mold and possess (Petersen, 2023):
- This desire for control, however, is often intertwined with a fear of the uncontrollable "female nature."
- Both Pandora and Maria represent a threat to the established order.
- A symbol of the chaos and destruction that unleashed female power can bring.
Galatea: The Exception and the Rule
- Peterson (2023) sees Galatea as an exception because, unlike the others, she is brought to life through divine intervention, and this transformation grants her a kind of realness that the others lack.
- What Does the Artificial Woman Tell Us About Ourselves?
- Peterson (2023) argues that examining these stories can give us insight into the human psyche. Does our fascination with the artificial woman reflect our desire for control, creation, and perhaps even a form of immortality?
- As we move forward in an age of AI, understanding these psychological underpinnings can help us navigate our complex relationship with technology and its potential.
References
Petersen, C. (2023). Man-Machines [Review of Man-Machines]. In Book: AI - Limits and Prospects of Artificial Intelligence. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783839457320-009
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