Artificial Intelligence

February 21, 2005 9:44 AM

Pygmalion stories in literature and art. The myth of the scuptor who fell in love with a statue and prayed for it to be brought to life.
Related :- Galatea, a piece of interactive fiction which allows you to interact with a interpretation of the living statue (by Emily Short); Wikipedia entry on the myth.
posted by plep (10 comments total)

The thread on the interactive fiction of Adam Cadre led me here.
posted by plep at 9:46 AM on February 21, 2005

What a concept, although what appears to be an eternal one: Man contemplating and then having the ability to construct his ideal woman, the perfect woman. She may look the part but does she act the part. In other words does she have a soul, a history in the soul that would unfold a beautiful personality?

Or, are we dealing with the ancient turned modern, objects of desire? A wonderful story indeed but straight from the male fantasy world. Galatea, statues that come to life for their creator, female drones, robots and replicants, confront a complex organic world. What a sexy and interesting fate but a difficult hand to be dealt.
posted by Viomeda at 10:09 AM on February 21, 2005

Here is a modern day Pygmalion, John DeAndreas, Linda's, who I don't think come to life.
posted by Viomeda at 10:39 AM on February 21, 2005

Whoa! ^^^^NSFW.

Heh. Not to be some kind of prude asshole. I know, it's art.
My boss disagreed, though.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 11:16 AM on February 21, 2005

Not my favorite either but yes they put them in museums. They exist and I can't imagine what Pygmalion would say.
posted by Viomeda at 12:12 PM on February 21, 2005

You are the ones that can hear airs. Who can be frightened or encouraged. You can hold things and break them and fix them. I never felt at home here. This is an awful place to be dropped down halfway. - Powers' Galatea 2.2
posted by dmd at 1:26 PM on February 21, 2005

My mother has a print of this painting in her home and I remember spending hours as a child staring at it - those heads underneath Cupid get pretty creepy after a while.

I had actually never heard the myth of Pygmalion until this post... so, thanks!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:43 PM on February 21, 2005

Thanks for this link. Pygmalion's always been one of my favourite myths.
posted by S.C. at 3:37 PM on February 21, 2005

Thanks, good post.
posted by ori at 6:28 PM on February 21, 2005

I'm curious about something... doesn't it seem that the Pygmalion/Galatea, etc. thing is mostly (exclusively?) a male thing? Do we have any cultural examples of a female (Pygmalia?!) version of this story?

Also, great links, plep!
posted by taz at 4:05 AM on February 23, 2005