Waldeck, M. 2014. Typography and National Identity. 9th Conference of the International Committee for Design History and Design Studies. University of Aveiro in Aveiro, Portugal 08 - 11 Jul 2014 Blucher. https://doi.org/10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0020
| Title | Typography and National Identity |
|---|---|
| Authors | Waldeck, M. |
| Type | Conference paper |
| Abstract | This text focuses on the concept of tradition founded on nationalist bases and asks how it is related to graphic design. This question is considered in the field of typography, where ties between the printing industry, language and national identity are illustrated. Three principles from theories of nationalism are followed and compared with some episodes of typography history. The concepts are, first and foremost, Anderson’s thesis that the printed language helped found nationalism. Second, Hobsbawm’s idea that nationalism is able to invent traditions. Third, Gellner‘s point that nationalism tries to align cultural and political frontiers. It is thus suggested that nationalism is related to graphic design as an unintended effect of the printing industry. However, since typography precedes nations, it does not necessarily convey national identities. Nationalist commitments may attribute false historical origins to typefaces and restrict design to national borders that do not correspond to the cultural ones. |
| Year | 2014 |
| Conference | 9th Conference of the International Committee for Design History and Design Studies |
| Publisher | Blucher |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 2014 |
| Journal | Blucher Design Proceedings |
| Journal citation | 1 (5), pp. 183-188 |
| ISSN | 2318-6968 |
| Book title | Tradition, Transition, Tragectories: major or minor influences? [=ICDHS 2014 - 9th Conference of the International Committee for Design History and Design Studies] |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0020 |
| Web address (URL) | http://www.proceedings.blucher.com.br/article-details/typography-and-national-identity-13835 |