Why does the font in the Transparent credits look so familiar?
March 24, 2015 11:41 PM Subscribe
My friend recently started watching Transparent on Amazon, and she mentioned that the font used for the credits looks so familiar, like from some '80s TV show, and it's really been bugging her that she can't remember what other show it looks like. She showed me a screencap and I can't figure it out either, and now it's bugging me! Anyone know what '80s (or late '70s possibly?) TV show also used this font, or one very similar to it? Thanks in advance!
It immediately reminded me of the All in the Family typeface.
Note: I have seen exactly 0 episodes of All in the Family, so this is an idea I have based on cultural osmosis. I'd guess others feel the same.
posted by samthemander at 12:09 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Note: I have seen exactly 0 episodes of All in the Family, so this is an idea I have based on cultural osmosis. I'd guess others feel the same.
posted by samthemander at 12:09 AM on March 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also see the opening credits to "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman."
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 12:30 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 12:30 AM on March 25, 2015
TWinbrook8 beat me to it. Bookman Swash was very popular with designers back then. It's one of those fonts that become enigmatic of its time. It's a great font.
FWIW, its base font, Bookman Standard is a good solid font as well.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:06 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
FWIW, its base font, Bookman Standard is a good solid font as well.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:06 AM on March 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Interestingly, in the screencap stennieville provided, the two lowercase m's are not the same (as found in "Clementine" and "Samayoa"). One has a longer tail. Is that unusual? Does anyone know what the reason is?
posted by Falwless at 8:13 AM on March 25, 2015
posted by Falwless at 8:13 AM on March 25, 2015
One has a longer tail. Is that unusual? Does anyone know what the reason is?
They're alternating swash and standard letters (see here for comparison between the two). When you're using a typeface with fancy bits, you should have the non-swash counterpart to keep it from looking wonky (like so).
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:29 AM on March 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
They're alternating swash and standard letters (see here for comparison between the two). When you're using a typeface with fancy bits, you should have the non-swash counterpart to keep it from looking wonky (like so).
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:29 AM on March 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
It's one of those fonts that become enigmatic of its time.
Emblematic. There's nothing particularly cryptic about it....
posted by Chrysostom at 8:33 AM on March 25, 2015
Emblematic. There's nothing particularly cryptic about it....
posted by Chrysostom at 8:33 AM on March 25, 2015
It's a slightly different typeface, but Family Ties is similarly reminiscent. I feel there were other shows beyond these few that liked the loose yet homespun look of fonts in this genre and felt them appropriate for a family-oriented sitcom. In short, the producers of Transparent know their source material well.
posted by dhartung at 1:18 AM on March 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dhartung at 1:18 AM on March 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
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