Along with our animation lecture regarding Ruka, I also found something very particular in terms of the graphic design section of the presentation. The political comparison and influence of three completely different fonts (Universum, Fraktur and Times New Roman) was remarkable!
My favourite in terms of look and appeal personally was Fraktur. As soon as I set eyes on it (I'd seen it many times before and failed to find out its name) I thought it was the most beautiful font I'd ever seen. The reason for this would have to be that although to look at, at first, it seems a very elegant and noble font, after a while of studying each individual letter, each hooked, beak-like serif, we become slightly afraid of it due to the sharpness of the letters in contrast with the sleekness and curvature we see at first glance.
Fraktur includes all 26 letters of the Latin alphabet with the Germanic "S Sharp" and "Umlauts". The word Fraktur translates loosely as "Gothic" and is deemed appropriate as it's roots as a font stem back to the time of the Goths, Huns, and so forth. Likewise, Times New Roman is also named very much after its historical development as a typeface as it derives from Roman scriptures and carvings found on stone.
Both of the above being serif fonts, rather bold, striking and noticeable; Universum is very much different compared to afore mentioned. Universum was created in 1925 by Herbert Bayer (Bauhaus). A sans serif typeface in it's own right with full-bodied letters and a very uniform and similar-looking feel to it, this font was created to do exactly what it's name suggests - become universal. Although this font never got released, unlike the other two fonts' jobs (to be a political letterhead associated with one country almost!), this typeface was created solely to unify everyone and promote equality: a view that may have been needed at such a critical time in politics and history alike.
