By Rory McCartney and Charlie Morgan
288 pages, hardcover, $65
Published by Rizzoli
rizzoliusa.com

Why did an enigmatic typeface permeate a variety of youth subcultures—from punk rock groups to student athletes to activist organizations—in New York City from the 1970s onwards? Heated Words: Searching for a Mysterious Typeface by Rory McCartney and Charlie Morgan attempts to answer this question by chronicling the history of a typeface that the authors refer to as “HW.” Its origins begin in 1140 CE, when monks used handwritten calligraphy in gothic capitals known as “blackletter” to pen French religious manuscripts. Since then, the sharp, stylized typeface has evolved: inventions like the Gutenberg press allowed for a more widespread use of blacklettering, which made it easier for sports teams and military organizations to personalize uniforms. But HW ultimately solidified its place in modern youth subculture when social organizations—including activist groups such as the Young Lords and hip hop artists like Biz Markie—used heat presses to affix letters onto garments during the ’70s and ’80s as “the desire for individualism drove an escalation in personalization.” HW particularly fit for heat press lettering because “its curved edges set it apart, giving it a more ‘pop’ appearance and also making it easier for … application.” Even as heat pressing waned in popularity, the typeface maintained its place in the subcultural canon, and streetwear brands such as adidas and Nike have used iterations of HW. Though this exhaustive account is sometimes difficult to trace, Heated Words is an impressive 288-page compilation of images, captions and detailed descriptions that provide clarity to a ubiquitous—albeit mysterious—typeface. —Isis Davis-Marks