Visual conveyers

[087] ... [General]

Once upon a time, is how most fairy tales begin, and as children we imagined people and places stretching our imagination, though the King and queen always were taken to be what we had seen pictured elsewhere. Pictures that represent something to convey as a symbol stays with us throughout. Like the Desktop icon in old Windows 95 that showed the top of a traditional office desk in green felt secured on the four corners, with the paraphernalia needed to work. Now of course with the icon no longer used, we know what a desktop on a desktop computer or a laptop means, taking it for what's on the opening screen to begin with. I am not getting the word used for such representation, probably Pantocrator?

This topic came to mind on seeing a cartoon on a thief. It was a bit interesting on how thieves are pictured, nothing different from the olden days. Invariably he is always bald, wears a T-shirt with broad zebra stripes, mask over the eyes like Zorro, though to hide his identity in other way, and necessarily carries a sack behind holding the loot during the night with crescent moon. In fact, if not shown that way, we probably can't figure out his trade though times have changed. A stolen phone in his pocket would be of more value than all that old clothes and junky stuff in the large sack that even donkeys may refuse to carry.

In a way such visual representations continue in even other aspects, like religious buildings that still try to evoke traditional looks, hardly justifying the modern construction and materials used.

Though most people these days follow an universal dress code and hairstyle (to be in vogue or because others do it), in cartoons the traditional outfit springs up to convey someone's origin. May be such clues are needed in some forms of expression to readily guess, but wonder if a necessity where can be avoided...