»Wicked Codes« is an analysis of the witch's visual topoi from a western perspective. I named sixteen of the most popular codes and explained their origins. Additionally I gave examples for each code, showing both early representations and more current ones in the fields of literature, film and television.
For designers, these codes are of particular interest when it comes to the retelling or representation of the witch. With the knowledge of these codes, the topoi of the witch can be deconstructed in a targeted way to prevent a thoughtless reproduction of harmful stereotypes. On the other hand codes can be used in a way that the design evokes collective memories and thus the viewer unconsciously draws conclusions about the witch myth.
For designers, these codes are of particular interest when it comes to the retelling or representation of the witch. With the knowledge of these codes, the topoi of the witch can be deconstructed in a targeted way to prevent a thoughtless reproduction of harmful stereotypes. On the other hand codes can be used in a way that the design evokes collective memories and thus the viewer unconsciously draws conclusions about the witch myth.
This project was part of my Intermediate project during my Integrated Design Studies at KISD (Köln International School of Design) and supervised by Prof. Andreas Wrede.
