comic sans typewriter makes a case for a widely despised typeface

comic sans typewriter makes a case for a widely despised typeface
all images courtesy of jesse england

 

 

 

whether you’re infuriated by it, or nostalgic for it, comic sans plays a pivotal role in contemporary culture, whether used for memes, memos or the occasional rejected resume. the sans-serif typeface has been given a new identity and application, realized by american artist jesse england with his ‘sincerity machine’ typewriter, which prints numerals, upper and lowercase glyphs in the childish font.

 

by using a laser engraving machine to etch new letters out of acrylic, england then glued them onto the strikers of a 70’s era, sears-branded brother charger 11 typewriter and used a vinyl cutter to craft matching key covers. ‘as part of my ongoing thesis of questioning how we create, consume, store (and fetishize) media’ england describes ‘it’s my wish that a classic, functioning typewriter altered to write in the most popularly despised font of modern times will provoke thoughts about such media concerns.’

 

 

sincerity machine: the comic sans typewriter
video courtesy of jesse england

numerals, upper and lowercase glyphs are printed in the childish font

a vinyl cutter has crafted matching key covers

a laser engraving machine has etched new letters out of acrylic

‘the most popularly despised font of modern times’ gets placed in a new context

the comic sans typewriter in use