Simulacrums

Simulacra are all manner of artificial beings imaginable. They are a popular appearance in a wide spectrum of fiction, being as common to fantasy and science fiction as they are to the horror genre.

This article has the following simulacrum types split off into their own articles:
 * Gargoyles
 * Robots

Etymology
The word "simulacrum" is Latin in origin, and means "image" or "likeness". It may be recognizable as the basis of the English word "similar". The word has been in use in several European languages since the late sixteenth century to refer to anything that is a depiction or mimicry of another thing, whether 2D or 3D. For example, photos are simulacra by definition, but the likes of paintings and statues only if they are created in the image of something else.

Though the concept of and theories surrounding the quality of simulacra predate the sixteenth century, when the word "simulacrum" came into use in Europe, it originally did not have a negative connotation to it. This had changed by the nineteenth century, when simulacra came to be understood be fakes of reality. This idea is most famously seen in the 1928 painting The Treachery of Images, which depicts a pipe and the text: "This is not a pipe", since a picture of a pipe is not a pipe itself.

It is unknown when the term was first applied to the artificial beings that showed up regularly in fiction. In relation to the evolution of the term, prior to the nineteenth century simulacra were either readily accepted as equals to natural beings or unchallengedly considered the servants of natural beings. The nineteenth century notion of "fakeness" rubbed off on the role of artificial beings, with the monster of Frankenstein, Pinocchio, and robots all taking the role of lesser beings that seek acceptance as equals be means of becoming "human".

An alternative term for simulacra is androids, though the latter word is more often thought to apply only to mechanical simulacra. Also, "android" is Ancient Greek and translates to "likeness of a man", meaning it fails as a word to describe those simulacra who are female, non-humanoid, or both.

Simulacra in Monster High
The Monster High simulacra are Frankie Stein, her parents, Watzit, HooDude, Robecca Steam, and Captain Penny. It is likely though not confirmed that the De Nile servants are simulacra, and the same goes for the Tiki. How Rochelle Goyle, Roux, and Rockseena came into being is unknown and thus their status as simulacra is uncertain.