Baseline Magazine - Type as Agent of Power

 In the typography magazine Baseline there is an article titled Type as Agent of Power exploring the use of typography seen in propaganda posters and publications connected with dictatorships and some what controversial political movements. The layout of the article uses this consistent black back ground with white type on top, this not only makes the type stand out but the images also. This could be a design feature to implement on my own work. As my magazine designs will be mainly examples of other artists and designers work thinking about how this is presented is through typography and the layout of images is key to my designs.

Written by Steven Heller initially describes communication through type, 'when formed into certain typeface styles and families, are agents of power and tools of the powerful. Some are used to gnaw away at freedom of thought and deed, expressing authoritarian dictates.' speaking of the typefaces being the incisor of language and how communication is expressed. In terms of my own publication possibly looking at how type is formed and composed using these techniques will show further understanding of what they are communicating and how.


The article then goes on to speak of typefaces denoting certain ideas and themes, the Germain Blackletter (Fraktur) is described as 'the Nazi's ideal German typeface' is forever tainted as a reminded of Hitlers crimes against humanity. This notion of a typeface being able to express such hate, pain and evil is a though provoking theme that I could touch on in my magazine.

The article goes on to speak of Obey the giant by Shepard Fairey and how this use of words and type can denote a direct and abrupt form of communication. Then goes on to talk about the use of a serif type may not have the same impact 'Can types designed for power even have serifs? Heavy slab serifs not withstanding, do dine line serifs slow down reading and provide the receiver with a millisecond of of contemplation time, which could mean the difference between acquiescence or disobedience? Power you might say, is in the lack of details.' an interesting statement weather a san serif typeface is more powerful I'm not sure but the immediacy of expression and readability is certain. How type can express information is for me a engaging idea and one that it may be interesting to look into in my own publication.

The final page speaks of the German artist Kathe Kollwitz, who's son was killed in World War I created the 1924 poster 'Nie weider Krieg' (War Never Again!) and how the hand scrawled lettering of the masthead evoked the power of the masses. This in contrast to the 'Hitler' election poster the writer describes 'the stark geometric typeface posses an architectonic authority that suggests, ironically a forceful yeah modern persona.' this idea that both designs speak to the masses but one shows much more authority and the other urges the country to unity against this authority. This article has given me some understanding of type as a tool for promoting power and how typefaces alone can be provocative in expressing this power.