The ABC of Visual Theory

Abstract

"The ABC of Visible Theory," an encyclopedic essay describing the interrelations between typography, language, and thought, connects the "paraphernalia of the text" with every cultural association which can be brought to bear on these practices. The essay uses historical, fictional, scientific, and other discourses to discuss electricity, font types, strategies, saints, books, journals, paintings, and article titles, language systems, ontology, names, technology, utopia, psychic states, newspapers, games, clichés, fictional animals, typescripts, rules, emotions, institutions, sociological categories, associations usually lay dormant in typographic effects and if we followed each and every association mentioned in this ABC, we would have to contend with the reservoir of our entire culture. By offering only one or two entries for each letter of the alphabet Visible Theory remains potential. The lay-out and design of this piece encourages comparison between entries and dissolves the apparent opposition between visual images and thinking. Just as each topic suggests a reservoir of cultural history, the over-all design and the lay-out of each individual entry connects to webs of associations.