The ABC of Visual Theory

Given the interrelations between typography, language, & thought, the "paraphernalia of the text" are connected with every cultural association that can be brought to bear on these practices. Historical, fictional, scientific, & other discourses are used to discuss electricity, font types, strategies, saints, books, journals, paintings, article titles, language systems, ontology, names, technology, utopia, psychic states, newspapers, games, cliches, fictional animals, typescripts, rules, emotions, institutions, sociological categories, art movements, history, & self-reflexive comment. This enormous web of associations usually lies dormant in typographic effects, & if one followed each & every association mentioned here one would have to contend with the reservoir of the entire culture. By offering only one or two entries for each letter of the alphabet, visible theory remains potential. The layout & design encourages comparison between entries & dissolves the apparent opposition between visual images & thinking. Just as each topic suggests a reservoir of cultural history, the overall design & the layout of each individual entry connects to webs of associations. HA