18/11/13- The Origins of Typography/Text

The third lecture was called the "Origins of Typography", covering languages that had to be learned, rather than interoperated, and the development from abstraction to more complex markings, and the importance of literacy during the different ages. 
And, in all honesty, I found it very difficult to get myself inspired over this topic. I understand the importance of typography, and its relevance in not only communicating an idea in an informative sense but also conveying it on a more pictorial level, but it is not something I have really put much thought into in the past. So I guess it would be best to start with the history.

In previous centuries, before the development of the printing press, books had to be hand scribed, which was both very expensive and time consuming, so typefaces were created which allowed scribes to use a specific set of letter styles to stick to in order to reduce the time taken, as well as making it easier for printing. The original typefaces, like Blackletter, were only really ideal for hand scribing, due to the thick nature of them, so thinner types were created specifically designed for printing called Roman Type, based on the inscriptions on ancient monuments, buildings and temples from the Roman era. After that, in order to keep with the times and demand for more publications, like posters, billboards, fliers and magazines, more simpler geometry based types were invented, like Futura, as well as more creative, specialised and downright bazaar fonts. And with the introduction of enhanced technology came pixel type, as well as the ability for anyone to create their own type styles. This has allowed for a sudden boom in new type faces in the past few decades. 

What especially interests me however isn't the history of typography, but how it is being used today and how constant development allows there to be a future for typography as well. For example, the combination of Typography and other modern mediums, like animation. I have found some of the most effective and convincing advertisements, music videos, and other animated films have included typography using appropriate fonts, timing and movement to create visual impact to emphasise certain points in a sequence.  

This student production (by Tamara Connolly, 2007) of a music video for the song "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone is a fantastic example of the use of animated typography using appropriate timing combined with suitable type, along with graphic elements as well, in order to enhance the impact of the song and it's lyrics. 

What I find especially satisfying about this video is the way the size of the typography itself changed in accordance to the dynamics of the music, for example the use of larger, bolder writing whenever there is a crescendo. It proves that typography isn't just a tool to get people reading, it can be an art form in itself, getting the mind flowing along with the movement of animated pieces like this. Typography has gone through a lot of changes and has morphed into its own art form over the years, and I believe that with the use of animation and film it will continue to develop and grow. 

The font I am currently using to write this blog post is fine- it does the job in providing a legible form for me to write in and for others to read and understand. However, in the words of the American Typographer Ed Benguiat:

“I do not think of type as something that should be readable. It should be beautiful.”  

I think that it depends a lot on the context of the type- when trying to convey something words alone simply cannot do, like lyrics or poetry, I believe there will always be a time and place for creative typography.  
                                  

29/11/13 Medical Art and Leonardo Da Vinci

Forensic Art is a Masters course taught at the University of Dundee, and we received a lecture on the 10th of October on Medical art and it's relevance and changes throughout history.

Before the invention of the camera, anatomical and medical illustrations were vital to learning and teaching medical practice- what was inside of the body could only be seen during dissections and operations, so it was vital to have references and representations outside of these small windows of opportunity. Medical depictions can be found in the likes of Egyptian art, showing the beginnings of medical practice in ancient times. 

There were some significant steps forward in medical art between the 11th and 15th Century in Europe, as illustrators attempted to depict organ systems. However, these drawings were rather primitive, and instead of being based on observation, they were based on text.

Some of the most influential studies in the human body, however, were created during the 15th and 16th century by Leonardo Da Vinci, and his medical drawings are still used today in teaching. Medical illustration did not exist as a profession at this time,so it was even more significant that Da Vinci created anatomical drawings and observations.

About a year ago, a sheet of his anatomical sketches were featured in an exhibition, Ten Drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, A Diamond Jubilee Celebration, which took place in the McManus Gallery here in Dundee. I was lucky enough to get several chances to see these drawings, and the opportunity to discover medical aspect of Da Vinci's work. 

Leonardo Da Vinci first showed an interest in medical observations in the 1480s to improve his figure painting and accuracy. Peter Abrahams, Professor of Clinical Anatomy at Warwick Medical School, states that:

"The most important skill for a medical artist is precision. Only draw what you see."

It was not uncommon for Renaissance artists to make lay a foundation with human anatomy as part of their training, however Leonardo conducted his own dissections himself, which was rather unusual. 

Over the years, Da Vinci was granted greater and greater access to human material, through university hospitals, monasteries, and his collaboration with Marcantenio della Torre, Professor of Anatomy around 1510, when he created his best anatomical work. By the end of his life, he had performed over 30 dissections, which is proven by the quantity of his surviving drawings, most of which were directly observed, including the two images featured below.   

The Bones of the Foot, and the Shoulder, 1510
One of the 10 Leonardo Da Vinci
Drawings in the Royal Collection

The Veins and Muscles of the Arm
On the opposite side of the sheet with
The Bones of the Foot, and the Shoulder

Thirty of Da Vinci's un-published medical illustrations have been displayed in Edinburgh, right next to MRI and CT scans in order to prove the accuracy and attention to detail Leonardo had in his anatomical work. Even though technology has advanced and evolved over the years, allowing for more detailed images to be more available, Da Vinci's artworks continue to influence modern medical artists.

"We draw the things that can't be photographed...what happens inside."

"...computers can only do so much."

Phillip Ball, Chairman of the Medical Artists Association

Leonardo Da Vinci's medical artworks prove that skilfully hand drawn anatomy sketches share the same, if not more power, than more modern computer generated images, and his work will probably be relevant in medicine for hundreds more years to come.