Fighting typeface??
Does anyone find it odd they used Bodoni or something similar to title this new book by Senator Jim Webb, former military man, a guy who always looks like he’s chewing bullets?
To me it sure doesn’t bring up the concept of “fight” - unless it’s a knockdown-dragout in a fashion design house or somewhere similarly elegant.
I would’ve used something aggressive yet dignified. Any suggestions?
14.May.2008 3.06pm
Optima Semibold
14.May.2008 3.40pm
I dunno. Seems like it would be a good idea to de-emphasize the physical aggression connotations of his Marine Corps background (as ex-Army myself, that’s definitely not a gratuitous swipe at the military), and transfer the idea of ’fight’ to a more intellectual battleground — reasoning together instead of confrontation, that kind of thing.
14.May.2008 9.32pm
Gus, I hadn’t thought of that. (But isn’t he Navy?)
14.May.2008 11.23pm
Given the buzz about his VP chances, I’m surprised they didn’t use Gotham. Isn’t Optima John McCain’s font? I bet the designer was a Republican. :)
15.May.2008 6.44am
what an awful, awful photo.
15.May.2008 7.09am
I would have thought Knockout would be the obvious choice. :)
T
15.May.2008 7.44am
Bodoni is one of the popular styles associated with elite American politics; it shows up on all sorts of generic stuff around Washington—which is the mother of all target markets for these kinds of books.
15.May.2008 7.59am
> But isn’t he Navy?
According to his Senate bio, he graduated from the Naval Academy, but went into the Marines.