| — WARNING — |
| This article belongs to the monster history category of pages, which detail the creatures of the Monster High franchise and do so in relation to the source context of those creatures. There is a likelihood that this article contains material not suited for young people and in general holds topics that are upsetting. If you only wish to read about the basic inspiration choices for the Monster High characters and creatures, go to |
Simulacrums 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:
Etymology[]
The word "simulacrum" is Latin in origin and means "image" or "likeness". It may be recognizable as the inspiration of the English words "similar" and "simulate". "Simulacrum" has been used in several European languages since the late sixteenth century to refer to anything that is a depiction or mimicry of another thing. For example, (non-manipulated) photos are simulacrums by definition because they always depict something else, but the likes of paintings and statues can be an original design, and thus they aren't necessarily simulacrums.
Though the philosophical considerations of what role a copy plays in reality predate the sixteenth century, when the word "simulacrum" came into use in Europe, it was a neutral word. This had changed by the nineteenth century, when the word "simulacrum" was associated with fakeness and inferiority in the same vein as the word "phantom".
It is unknown when "simulacrum" was first applied to an artificial being, but one would assume it to have done so not too long after the term's introduction. Around the time "simulacrum" obtained its negative connotations, a shift in role occurred for artificial beings. Whereas before the nineteenth century, simulacrums were either willing servants or loyal spouses, starting the nineteenth-century stories about simulacrums who are unhappy with their lower lot in life and constantly strive to become "human" appeared at an increasing frequency.
An alternative term for artificial beings is androids, though the latter word is more often thought to apply only to mechanical simulacrums. Also, "android" is Ancient Greek and translates to "likeness of a man", meaning it fails as a word to describe those simulacrums who are female, non-humanoid or both.
History[]
An important theme in religion and people's worldviews throughout history are the stories of how everything and, in particular, humans came to be. These stories have had and have a profound effect on the way humans looked and look at themselves.
Most religions feature one or more primary gods who either have always been or at one point came forth from some pre-existence chaos. These gods, in turn, created everything else. A common theme in creation myths is that the gods created humans from non-living material, often mud, clay, or wood. Humans of many cultures viewed themselves as inherently artificial beings to the gods, who were inherently natural beings. This idea also played a large role in human acceptance that the gods were their superiors and should be obeyed and appeased. Depending on the details of the religion, the idea of artificiality was also used to explain and justify a hierarchy among humans, such as that the upper class, (wo)men or relevant race/nationality consisted of humans made from better materials, formed with greater care, or created first.
Also, depending on the religion was the tolerance for humans taking the role as creators of other creatures. For instance, the golems of Jewish mythology were not always appreciated, and the homunculi were largely seen by the Islamic and Christian religions as a product of magic and, therefore, of evil.
Fiction[]
Though the idea of simulacrums as characters didn't take flight until the nineteenth century, artificial beings are many centuries older. Since they also are a rather varied bunch, a prudent start to detailing their role in fiction is to collect which ones there are in the first place. The below list attempts to give as accurate an overview by year as possible, which is severely limited because some stories are clearly way older than the year in which they were first written down.
Also, something to keep in mind, the list only concerns itself with the actual simulacrums. For instance, there are many living dolls in fairy tales, but most are enchanted humans or the form through which a deity or fairy interacts with their protégé. Those aren't simulacrums, so not considered in the list.
- Ushabtis (ca. 1900 BCE) - Mass-produced Ancient Egyptian burial statues that were thought to become animated to do afterlife work for the deceased.
- Automata (ca. 800 BCE) - Autonomous metal statues created by the Ancient Greek god Hephaistos to perform a variety of tasks.
- Terracotta Army (3rd century BCE) - A huge army of terracotta made to protect and serve Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, after his death.
- Galatea (prior to 8 CE) - An ivory statue created by Pygmalion and brought to life by the gods to be his wife.
- Homunculi (prior to 50 CE) - Miniature humanoid servants that could be created in a variety of ways and from a variety of materials.
- Golems (prior to 2nd century) - Servant (often) clay statues made by the Jewish rabbis in mimicry of God's creation of humans.
- Simigdáli/Pintosmalto (prior to 1634) - A multi-material statue created by a high class girl and brought to life by God to be her husband.
- Monsters of Frankenstein (1818) - Beings made from body parts of deceased people to advance scientific understanding of life.
- Thumbelina (1835) - A miniature girl who was made by a witch and given as daughter to a childless woman. Thumbelina later earns wings and becomes a fairy.
- Living scarecrows (1852) - Early living scarecrows were kind-hearted servants. They've since become mostly villains who work together as well as alone (except in The Wizard of Oz).
- Living dolls (prior to 1855) - Early living dolls were loyal servants if treated well. They've since become mostly single operating villains.
- Gingerbread Man (1875) - A gingerbread man who tried to avoid being eaten, but grew too confident.
- Snowflake (prior to 1882) - A living snow girl made as a childless couple's daughter. Snowflake does not survive next spring. (Other fictional snow-based beings have been made in movies.)
- Pinocchio (1883) - A marionette made from an already sapient block of wood. Pinocchio later becomes a real human boy with a beating heart after proving himself brave, truthful, and unselfish.
- Land of Oz books (1900s) - Author L. Frank Baum wrote a series of children fantasies that include characters not made of flesh and blood.
- Mechanical robot (1907) - A.I. machines usually cast in stories that bring up the question how much autonomy is required to be considered "human".
- Robots R.U.R.-type (1920) - Synthetic organic creatures made to serve mankind. They eventually rebel and inherit Earth from the humans.
- Living grotesques/gargoyles (1971) - Stone statues made to function as guardians from evil spirits, which is why they are usually found perched on a building. Rochelle's grandmother sits on the famed Notre Dame cathedral. (Henry Hunchback's father works there and was mentioned in Scaris: City of Frights.)
- Holograms (1985) - Made of light and usually generated by computer, which hosts the personalities.
- Toy Story (1995) Disney teamed up with Pixar to make the first fully CGI movie. It featured self-aware toys. (Pixar has made many other movies featuring A.I.)
- The Powerpuff Girls (1998) - The titular superheroines are lab-made fraternal triplets.
- Goosebumps (2015) - A ventriloquist dummy named Slappy is the primary villain.
Notable simulacrums[]
Living dolls[]
Hoodude Voodoo is a human sized Voodoo doll. Traditional Voodoo which has it's origins in Haiti does not have any form of doll incantation within it. It's variations Louisiana Voodoo and Hoodoo from which Hoodude gets his name both have sympathetic magic. In Louisiana Voodoo, a gris-gris (a magical item) is usually used for a blessing. For example, to cure sickness or helping with romantic issues. Aspects of this may have tied into Hoodude's sweet nature. Hoodoo is a set of magical practices that mix African and Native American traditions. Hoodoo uses supernatural influences to empower the practicing individual. Incantations can be used to bring power, improve health or for revenge. There is also a basis for the Voodoo Doll in European magical practices such as the poppet which can be used for casting against a friend or a foe.
In media Voodoo, Louisiana Voodoo, and Hoodoo are often coupled together. Films such as The Serpent and the Rainbow and Live and Let Die include Voodoo doll uses. On a more positive spin there is Mystringdolls who are little keyring dolls who are meant to bring luck or a particular positive aspect to the owner.
Monster High[]
The Monster High simulacrums are Frankie Stein, her parents, Watzit, Hoodude Voodoo, gingerbread boy, Robecca Steam and Captain Penny. It is likely, though not confirmed that the De Nile servants may be simulacrums, and the same goes for the Tiki. Rochelle Goyle comes from a two parents-home, but nothing else is known about her parents, other than the fact that female gargoyles lay eggs. How Roux, Garrot, and Rockseena came into being is unknown and thus their status as simulacrums is uncertain. However, it can be assumed that living gargoyles are simply present due to it being mentioned that female gargoyles lay eggs. Though uncertain if it can be classified as a gargoyle one of the gargoyle statues was brought to life by Abbey in "Fright On!".
As a goo monster, Gooliope was created as experiment #816 in batch #8708, in an unnamed lab by a scientist that signs as R.S. The scientist thought that a lab wasn't the right place to raise a baby, considering that as an experiment, she would be constantly tested on. So Gooliope was left as a baby in a jar at a traveling circus. Adopted by the ringmaster and his wife, she started to grow and grow until she outgrew the jar and was eventually put inside the circus tent, where she grew both in size and in age, cared for by the circus crew. Since then, she has helped on shows and participated in some herself, but is also on a mission to find her heritage since she doesn't know much about it. Eventually, she came across Monster High on one of the circus stops and became a student while the circus is on break.
Abilities []
- Voodoo: Like a voodoo doll, when Hoodude is hurt, whoever is close to him or whose stuff he is holding will feel the pain for him and suffer the respective consequences. Usually, this effect creates a little spark around the zone affected, possibly a callback to his creator. He can transfer pain to others without holding their stuff, but only to males.
- Pain Inability: A voodoo doll like Hoodude cannot feel pain and is hardly ever damaged, as Hoodude has been through several deadly situations without a scratch.
- Earthquake Generation: Whenever Gooliope is scared or angry, she can create small earthquakes.
Known Simulacrums[]
| Generation 1 | Generation 2 |
|
|
- See also: Frankenmonsters, Gargoyles, Robots
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- A lot of backgrounders could be simulacrums, representing a wide range of additional simulacrum types. Volume 1 introduced two robot boys and a scarecrow boy, and Volume 2 a girl who possibly is a living ice or glass sculpture and a boy who possibly is a living statue.
- Ever After High features a child of Pinocchio and many Gingerbread Men. There's also a son of the Nutcracker, but the Nutcracker is an enchanted person and not a simulacrum.