Apr 4, 2010
MODERN @RT
In the last 20 years, the @ symbol has grown to mean many things to many people. It’s part of our identity, our brands, communication-in business and friendship. It can symbolize an independence that allows us to share our thoughts and ideas without censorship or it can represent a media that affords no privacy to anyone. Regardless, @ has become a significant part of our culture and of new media.
It is with this spirit that the Museum of Modern Art has recently acquired @ as part of their collection. The MOMA blog positions the acquisition as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate those intangible objects that cannot be housed or contained through traditional means. There is also a more traditional approach to the @ as a typographical element—a design that is elegant and well balanced—and as a cultural idea. The Department of Architecture and Design at MOMA recognizes how many different cultures and social sub-groups have adapted the @ to suite their needs. Examples include technologist who have adapted it for an identification device, others as a n expression for gender neutrality and others as a short-hand for animals and possessions.
The work, not currently on display, is featured as ITC American Typewriter and attributed to Ray Tomlinson, a typographer and designer. You may view the work by visiting the MOMA Collection.
