Comparison

[Alison Marana]

The historical importance of typography was accentuated in both The
Crystal Goblet and Enlightenment Origins. As design students, nearly
every project requires us to make typographic choices. The historical
cultivation of typography is often overlooked. The Crystal Goblet
discusses the issue of modernity/practicallity versus tradition/
inefficiency. The historical background of a typeface alludes to
whether or not it will work in a design. According to Beatrice Ward,
being a modernist means being a "good judge in the current era".
Enlightenment Origins also discusses the historical relevance of
typography; this article serves as a timeline of important events.
The discovery and alteration of a typographic measurement system has
been an ongoing project for the typographic world. Robin Kinross
notes Didot as the first to standardize size by a point system.

Modernization is an issue of concern with both articles. Kinross
describes the process of printing as, "...the seeds of modernity...".
In The Crystal Goblet, Ward categorizes calligraphy as fine art
because of its place in time: "...its primary economic and educational
purpose has been taken away". However, printing in English will not
be considered as fine art until the language "...no longer conveys
ideas to future generations." Modernity is not designated as positive
or negative in either essay, because without traits of the past,
typography would be devoid of importance.

After reading these articles, I understand the importance of history
when working with type design. Both The Crystal Goblet and
Enlightenment Origins are an anthropologic study, because the origin
and development of typography is examined.

-Alison Marana