The height of procrastination brings news of Helvetica
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So check this out because this is something Cosmic in its implications. Are you paying attention?
At this moment, I am sitting in the Butler Library on the American University campus, writing my midterm for a class I’m in on contemporary art. Or rather, I should say that I’m sitting here with my midterm open and books on the desk and reading photography blogs. That’s not what’s important though. What’s important is this.
My art history professor made a note on the top of the midterm that we are to use Arial (or Helvetica) at 11 point to take the midterm. Who knows why she stipulated this, probably because people write shit really small sometimes when they don’t know what they’re talking about. In any case, as you may have noticed, that’s my typeface of choice, and I, like the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and man countless others, condense the letters. So, not wanting to be marked down for this, I made a little note on the top of my paper.
A small note before beginning. The condensed font is a common aesthetic choice regarding this typeface, not one made to save space on this particular assignment. I can’t stand looking at something I’ve written with massive gaps between the characters. Why, after crafting an argument, would I present it full of holes?
Yeah, ok, so I know that’s kind of weird, maybe a little pretentious or something to write this kind of thing a prof, but it’s what I do anyway and I didn’t want to be marked down for it. Plus I’m pretty sure she’d think it’s funny and maybe a little endearing. So that’s about as far as I’ve gotten in writing this paper, but then I found this, and I wasn’t even looking for it.
This is a brand new documentary film that has just opened in New York, will be featured at SxSW and will be seeking wider release. How fucking great is that? So all of a sudden I’m inundated with information about the history of this font (it’s having its 50th anniversary THIS YEAR!) and how wonderful is it that something like a completely ubiquitous typeface would have a backstory? So guess what? the film has a blog where you can keep up to date with news, but also learn wonderful things about typography!
I’m so stoked. How rad is it than in this moment I’m thinking about something so mundane as the font I’m going to be using on a paper, that a accidentally by mistake come upon this wealth of information and varitable celebration of the very font in question?
Thus, I christen my new “typography” category with this her maiden post.
The universe is wonderful and strange and works in mysterious ways.
March 8th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
crazy shit.
March 8th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Wow, great find.