Heimburger - Yamamoto: Intermission 3 / Story 3 (86-119)

Mirror Girl seems to be the hopeful peak of the development of artificial intelligence, but it most likely comes right before the breakdown and revolution by machines alluded to in earlier portions of The Stories of Ibis. The idea that an algorithm which can calculate patterns in empathy and human relationships and act on such information seems slightly unsettling as it shows emotional behavior as predictable and formulaic. The inspiring aspect of the story is the fact that the intelligence desires to do good for the world and develop meaningful connections.
The film E.T.seems very thematically similar to "Mirror Girl," as it illustrated a unique connection with a nonhuman being and a relationship that was dependent on empathy and new ways of communicating.
Another media source that can easily be considered hopeful or optimistic is the fantasy/adventure/comedy film The Princess Bride. Both the Mirror Girl itself and the film The Princess Bride provide an escape into a medieval fantasy setting. In fact, the film itself does not take place within a fantasy setting but instead takes place in the real world, with a grandfather reading his sick grandson the book upon which the film is based, framing the main story of the film as a simulation of fictitious events.
Killscreen was a gaming and culture magazine that could also be considered optimistic, as it often defended the potential for positive impact that games could have as new forms of storytelling. Although the magazine ceased publication in 2016, it received praise for its detailed analyses of games as cultural artifacts rather than as typical consumer products. 
The Stories of Ibis refers to the “glorious past of the humans” several times, particularly focusing on the late 20thand early 21stcentury. Yamamoto may allude to numerous events with historical significance, especially in cultural ways from the 21stcentury, but the events that might be considered historical feats for humanity are most likely the events where humans defied their limits and pursued their ambitions. The invention of the plane comes immediately to mind as an important event in human history. This invention lead to the development of commercial airlines, which in turn made travelling to other parts of the world almost instantaneous. Another historical event that could be tied to Yamamoto’s so-called “glorious past of humans” is the creation of satellites. Having the ability to monitor the earth at any given position has tremendously impacted the knowledge we have on world events while also contributing to the creation of cellular phones, XM radio and other devices that utilize extremely long-distance signals. Both inventions extend human communication and knit the world more tightly together, forcing others to know even more about each other.

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