Helevtica is a film directed by Gary Hustwit that was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction. Its basically a history of Helvetica and an insight into how this one particular typeface came to take over large portions of the font world in the 1960's. It explains the backlash against Helvetica and the rifts between 1950's modernists who admired Helvetica's clean lines (these guys all inhabit Sterling Cooper style offices) and the scruffy postmodernists who hate Helvetica for all the same reasons that the modernists love it. This is the kind of film that the late Stanley Kubrick (a font fanatic) would have gone nuts for and I have to admit I really enjoyed for reasons that I don't quite understand - I suppose because it appeals to my inner geek or maybe its just interesting to watch passionate people get all worked up something - anything - in this age of apathy. (This blog post of course was written in Helvetica)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Helvetica
Helevtica is a film directed by Gary Hustwit that was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction. Its basically a history of Helvetica and an insight into how this one particular typeface came to take over large portions of the font world in the 1960's. It explains the backlash against Helvetica and the rifts between 1950's modernists who admired Helvetica's clean lines (these guys all inhabit Sterling Cooper style offices) and the scruffy postmodernists who hate Helvetica for all the same reasons that the modernists love it. This is the kind of film that the late Stanley Kubrick (a font fanatic) would have gone nuts for and I have to admit I really enjoyed for reasons that I don't quite understand - I suppose because it appeals to my inner geek or maybe its just interesting to watch passionate people get all worked up something - anything - in this age of apathy. (This blog post of course was written in Helvetica)
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15 comments:
You're a font of interesting information.
I alternate between preferences for Arial and Times New Roman for writing at the computer, by the way.
Good Irish presence at Bouchercon yesterday. I had Stuart Neville on my panel, and Declan Hughes and John Connolly had a convention-highlight session on "The Ten Crime Novels You Must Read Before You Die."
Their number-one author: Hammett.
==================================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com
Saw this a couple years back and really dug it too. The passion about something most don't give any thought to was compelling.
Peter
I dont know JC, but say hi to Stu for me, will ya?
Along similar lines, this was a great documentary as well.
Brian
I liked the lady who accused Helvetica of "being the font of the Vietnam War".
Brian
I'll check it out.
Interesting (at least to me)
article about Dr Who here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/the-doctor-is-in/8248
Inner geek?
No, sounds good, I always like documentaries about the little worlds within the larger one. Although for some reason I don't want to see the new Facebook movie, simply out of my strong resistance to Facebook.
One of my teachers was a big font lover, but I think he mourns the loss of real type, thinking digital type is not really the same thing.
Some of my more artistic friends love to play around with free fonts they download. Personally, I can't be bothered, but I like that they can. Although an illegible artsy font really annoys me.
Seana
I've never understood the hatred some people have against serifs.
Yes good call on the inner geek part.
If Comi-Con wasnt in San Diego I'd go every year and I'm still trying to wangle a part as an extra in The Hobbit.
Why not dust off the old leprechaun outfit that has stood you in such good stead in the past and stroll on over to the studio?
No, I don't get the san serif proponents either. Just read the Wikipedia entry that though some people think it's easier to read on computer screens, this isn't actually true.
There's nothing like Comi-con in Australia?
I have no opinion about this. I use Times New Roman mostly.
I had no idea that being interested in fonts was geeky. Of course, I work in advertising where it's always a question, every day.
Which explains why I liked the movie too.
I'm partial to courier wherever possible.. Trixie is also good - a distressed typewriter font.
Mal
It IS geeky, not that there's anything wrong with that.
We looked here hoping to find iut what was used in the Prometheus Books editiob of " cold , cold ground". It's a li vely font choice!
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