Page 186 - Cyberculture and New Media

Leman Giresunlu 177
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feminine persona as an object of sacrifice. Today these shell-like genders are
interchangeably sacrificing and regenerating one another’s images as new
names, vessels and shells of invention. In addition, these shell-like genders
are cognizant yet also are flexible about their origins and they playfully
celebrate the vastness of the net expanding into infinity.

6. Lara Croft
In the Lara Croft series, the protagonist Lara Croft is an aristocratic
lady and quite an aloof person. In access to cyber world she proves to be
quite dexterous, and does so by means of her helper technicians. Unlike
Alice, science’s intrusive hand appears to have left Lara Croft’s body intact.
Lara is to use these devices as mere tools only.
Lara Croft as the bearer and user of technology is also to keep the
true values of humanity intact: she is to prevent the world from the
contamination of evil: greed, and violence. Although stricken by curiosity
herself, she is the keeper of historical archeological treasures of aesthetic
value. Despite geared for higher good, her involvement into action can
nevertheless become harmful to historical sites. She is a Victorian goddess of
virtue in a world juggling for illegal profits, including the production of
biological weapons. In this respect, Lara Croft: the Cradle of Life also points
to ethical aspects of scientific research. In the movie a Nobel Prize-winning
scientist involves in the production of illegal biological weapons to acquire
more power. In the same movie, the mythical Pandora’s Box contains evil,
which would be better off if unrevealed to the scientist especially. Lara’s role
in this context is to prevent history from repeating itself, and resulting in self-
destruction.
Therefore, Lara represents timely interference into moments of
crisis, which otherwise would be detrimental to humanity. Similarly in the
Tomb Raider Lara is to interfere into a cosmic, planetary line up to prevent
into the world’s destruction. Just like in the Cradle of Life, in the Tomb
Raider as well Lara is to visit many archaeological sites of spiritual and
cosmic value in the four corners of the world. Oftentimes the cultural and
historical context inviting for Lara’s interference appears infused with use of
high-powered technological devices. In the Lara Croft movies Lara with her
interest in archaeology and her godly presence and interference into time,
reveals her divine presence. She transcends the limits of time to bring
together the past and the present for a higher good in order to resolve
universal dilemmas.
Croft in her endeavor against destructive aspects of science and
technology, takes her cue from the humanities. That is, historical legends,
myths and her father’s personal letters and his compassion comprise of her
source of information and strength to fight against the greedy individuals in
the sciences. Historical institutions such as British Royalty and a secret