Volume 13, Number 03, February 2023

Design that uses AI to Subvert Stereotypes: Make Witches Wicked Again

  Authors

Xiaohan Feng and Makoto Murakami, Toyo University, Japan

  Abstract

The Witch is a typical stereotype-busting character because its description has changed many times in a long history. This paper is an attempt to understand the visual interpretations and character positioning of the Watch by many creators in different eras, AI is being used to help summarize current stereotypes in witch design, and to propose a way to subvert the Witch stereotype in current popular culture. This study aims to understand the visual interpretations of witches and character positioning by many creators in different eras, and to subvert the stereotype of witches in current popular culture. This study provides material for future research on character design stereotypes, and an attempt is proposed to use artificial intelligence to break the stereotypes in design and is being documented as an experiment in how to subvert current stereotypes from various periods in history. The method begins by using AI to compile stereotypical images of contemporary witches. Then, the two major components of the stereotype, "accessories" and "appearance," are analyzed from historical and social perspectives and attributed to the reasons for the formation and transformation of the Witch image. These past stereotypes are designed using the design approach of "extraction" "retention" and "conversion.", and finally the advantages and disadvantages of this approach are summarized from a practical perspective. Research has shown that it is feasible to use AI to summarize the design elements and use them as clues to trace history. This is especially true for characters such as the Witch, who have undergone many historical transitions. The more changes there are, the more elements can be gathered, and the advantage of this method increases. Stereotypes change over time, and even when the current stereotype has become history, this method is still effective for newly created stereotypes.

  Keywords

Multidisciplinary, Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Design History, Stereotypes, Concept Art.