Fonting Around

I've been fonting around with some odd characters lately.  Hanging out at local breweries and coffee houses for open mic poetry readings shines a spotlight on apertures I didn't realized existed.  It's interesting to learn new things, see different type-faces, styles, and there have been some Wingdings!  My fascination with exploring the self and its many aspects naturally lends to character analysis.  Little did I realize this would lead to examining spines, ears, arms, shoulders, tails, hairlines, and some very stressed characters.  Along with this exploration I've discovered being bold, italicized, and freeing one's imagination can unleash unique personal expression, which  benefits poetry, not necessarily relationships. 

Honestly, who doesn't feel like a bold, italic, 72-point expression at times? Whether it's Franklin Gothic, Lucinda Bright, Perpetua Titling or Gil Sans - each offers individualized style and expression. I am even beginning to understand Wingdings, which renders letters as a variety of symbols. It is better not to over analyze, just allow the feeling and meaning to unfold.  The format is creative and its purpose was never meant as a method for writing sentences.  It's more like poetry than prose.  One definition states that Wingdings are meant as an ornament, to adorn a document. I know a few people like that, too.

Typefaces and fonts are more complex than I realized.  I never would have guessed that I'd need to look up a definition for "stress character."  I know more than a few people that fit this style.  As you probably know, I'm fascinated with computer terminology and use it as an overlay for personal experience.  Fonts.com's definition for stress is "the direction of thickening in a curve stroke."  I can definitely feel the direction and the intensity thickening when I'm stressed.  No question.  Here are just a few other font related definitions.  "Ear - The small stroke that projects from the top of the lowercase g.  Arm - A horizontal stroke not connected on one or both ends.  Shoulder - A curved stroke originating from a stem.  Tail - A descending stroke, often decorative.  Hairline - The thin strokes of a serif typeface.  Aperture - The somewhat rounded negative space in some characters."  I can't help but chuckle as I read these. 

TechTerms.com gives this definition for font.  "A font is a collection of characters with a similar design.  These characters include lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and symbols.  Changing the font can alter the look and feel of a block of text.  Some fonts are designed to be simple and easy to read, whiles others are designed to add a unique style to the text."

The same holds true for individuals, too.  We each have our unique style and perspective - some easy to read, others are a bit more difficult.  We each add to the overall document of the day, our template in time, and to the context of our world composition.  

Odd Characters, for sure. As for fonting around, it's been fun.

The SEARCH is on. Join me.