To Everything (Kern Kern Kern) There Is A Season
August 22, 2014 11:12 AM   Subscribe

HiLoBrow (the "p(HiLo)sophical blog" dedicated to highbrow AND lowbrow culture, but NEVER middlebrow, seen previously here) every August does a series of posts with a "(something) Your Enthusiasm" theme. In 2011, it was Jack Kirby for "Kirb Your Enthusiasm", in 2012, it was Captain Kirk for "Kirk Your Enthusiasm", in 2013, it was Very Old School Hip-Hop for "Herc* Your Enthusiasm" and this year, it's a mini-essay a day about specific typefaces: "KERN YOUR ENTHUSIASM".

The daily rundown so far:
Matthew Battles on ALDINE ITALIC
Adam McGovern on DATA 70
Sherri Wasserman on TORONTO SUBWAY
Sarah Werner on JOHNSTON’S “HAMLET”
Douglas Wolk on TODD KLONE
Mark Kingwell on GILL SANS
Joe Alterio on AKZIDENZ-GROTESK
Suzanne Fischer on CALIFORNIA BRAILLE
Gary Panter on SHE’S NOT THERE
Deb Chachra on FAUX DEVANAGARI
Peggy Nelson on FUTURA
Tom Nealon on JENSON’S ROMAN
Rob Walker on SAVANNAH SIGN
Tony Leone on TRADE GOTHIC BOLD CONDENSED NO. 20
Chika Azuma on KUMON WORKSHEET
Chris Spurgeon on ELECTRONIC DISPLAY
Amanda French on DIPLOMA REGULAR
Steve Price on SCREAM QUEEN
Alissa Walker on CHICAGO
Helene Silverman on CHINESE SHIPPING BOX
Tim Spencer on SHATTER
and today, MetaFilter's Own Jessamyn West on (the infamous) COMIC SANS. (SPOILER: "Comic Sans is fine. You are fine.").

*named for "the unfairly neglected old-school hip hop pioneer DJ KOOL HERC, who invented the breakbeat — and, in doing so, facilitated MC’ing as we know it."
posted by oneswellfoop (18 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
What, no "Twerk Your Enthusiasm"?
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:28 AM on August 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


not yet, but I'm sure they'll get around to it.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:29 AM on August 22, 2014


MCCLURG YOUR ENTHUSIASM
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:39 AM on August 22, 2014


I'm curious now to know what an unenthusiastic twerk would look like
posted by Hoopo at 11:49 AM on August 22, 2014


As long as my brain is attuned to the possibilities...
The Former Yugoslavia and other Balkanizations: SERB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
Disney Channel Cartoons (and one in particular): FERB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
Hairstyles: CURL YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
Marching bands and their baton-carrying support groups: TWIRL YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
Exotic teas: HERB YOUR ENHUSIASM.
Fantasy Island: HERVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM (or for great dwarf actors from Mr. Velasquez to Peter Dinklage).
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:52 AM on August 22, 2014


that reminds me, I've been meaning to watch Helvetica

The first time I visited Toronto as an adult, I nearly swooned on a subway ride — I’d never had such a visceral response to typography before.

Thats how your body lets you know you that millions of years of genetic decisions have resulted in a predestination for a career in graphic design. It's called the Kerning Response. First discovered by Aleksaånder Kaern in 1899 when gazing upon a particularly well typeset article on whaling. Not to be confused with Stendhal syndrome, which just means you don't get out much.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:59 AM on August 22, 2014 [2 favorites]


Velasquez?!? I meant Villechaize. I spent way too long on this post...
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:12 PM on August 22, 2014


I enjoyed the title of this post very much.
posted by themanwho at 12:27 PM on August 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Kierkegaard/Purge/Kernel/Colonel/Cur/Swerve/Curve/Merc/Turk/Lurk/Perk/Kerb
posted by Iridic at 12:33 PM on August 22, 2014


Jessamyn's the best. She even stands up for bullied fonts.
posted by neroli at 12:39 PM on August 22, 2014 [5 favorites]


We watched Rabbit-Proof Fence last night, and I was amused that the titles and credits were Comic Sans. Crikey.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:44 PM on August 22, 2014


that reminds me, I've been meaning to watch Helvetica

Thanks for mentioning this. I've been meaning to watch it for years. Watching that now, with the other two movies in the trilogy soon to follow.
posted by hippybear at 1:19 PM on August 22, 2014


I think if the word "font" appears in an FPP the whole thread should be automatically converted to comic sans. Except that if you type "comic sans" in the comments it should get rendered in a fraktur font.

Discussions of Christian baptismal practices might be a little confusing, but still...
posted by yoink at 1:37 PM on August 22, 2014


oneswellfoop: "the "p(HiLo)sophical blog" dedicated to highbrow AND lowbrow culture,… In 2011, it was Jack Kirby for "Kirb Your Enthusiasm""

I'm going to assume they put the King in as an example of highbrow culture.
posted by signal at 2:39 PM on August 22, 2014


> Jessamyn's the best. She even stands up for bullied fonts.

I have a genuine, non-ironic like for Papyrus. Let's see if anyone speaks up on its behalf.
posted by benito.strauss at 4:11 PM on August 22, 2014


Except that if you type "𝕮𝔬𝔪𝔦𝔠 𝕾𝔞𝔫𝔰" in the comments it should get rendered in a fraktur font.

What part of this feature is not working for you?
posted by Wolfdog at 6:04 PM on August 22, 2014 [1 favorite]


Someday, when I am allowed to make only one rule for the world, it may be this:

Lowercase 'l' and the number '1' must always, ALWAYS look different. Not just the 1 with a little hat, the l MUST have a little tail. always.
posted by poe at 6:36 PM on August 22, 2014


Ooh, ooh, Papyrus is my guilty love as well! And Optima, despite its being whored out to McCain's presidential campaign.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:23 PM on August 22, 2014


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