As part of my fifth year, I had to write a semi-academic thesis on a topic of my choice. Passionate about literature, I chose to study the figure of the villain in fairy tales, and more specifically their appearance. This study analyses the evolution of their physical representations over time, while questioning society's role in the creation of these antagonists.

"What if monsters changed their costumes? For centuries, ugliness has been the indisputable stigma of evil in fairy tales. But today, a change is taking place: the villain is becoming more aesthetic, camouflaging themselves and fascinating us. Through a case study of Snow White's stepmother, this dissertation explores this iconographic shift. By analysing two centuries of images, this work deciphers how the evolution of society has transformed the image of the antagonist. It questions the power of illustration: how do visual codes dictate our sympathy or rejection? A deep dive into the art of representing evil."