The Evil Eye

Archetype

In this youtube video you can hear the father say, “Son, make the evil eye.” The baby responds by furrowing his brow and inclining his head to produce a menacing expression. This expression is recognized universally, perhaps due to an instinctual cue to avoid an angry and potentially dangerous individual. Check out this related article on facial prejudice and instinct from the BBC website. The video is so funny because this archetypal expression appears on the face of a cute baby that’s laughing and eating ice cream.

Stereotype

The jealous old hag is a stereotype often seen in film and literature,
particularly in fairy tales. In the hag’s jealousy of youth and beauty,
she curses the young and beautiful. The myth of the evil eye says that the
covetousness of others can lead to a curse on the person possessing the object
or attribute of jealousy. Old, solitary women were often suspected because it was
believed they were witches and women with a rheumy eye were particularly
vulnerable to the accusation. The image from an old self help book of a hooded
old woman cursing young, nude men creates a powerful juxtaposition.

Cliché

The Turkish nazar is a talisman believed to protect the wearer from
the evil eye. The stylized glass beads are meant to represent the human eye.
Once the amulet was said to protect it’s wearer from being cursed by jealous
eyes. Today, the amulet is considered a one-size-fits-all good luck charm
similar to the horse shoe. People wear the amulets on their clothes, post it
to their doors, and hang them in their cars. And today the phrase “to give
the evil eye” is synonymous with glaring or scowling at someone.