Things

Things this week include a brilliant photojournalistic trip around South African township barbers, some typographic thoughtfullness and insight, a striking calligraphic zine, some guerilla-ish Gorilla film magazines and the vicenarian Sonic the Hedgehog…

Gorilla Film Magazine #1 & #2

This magazine brilliantly highlights independent film that in this-day-and-age can just as easily find itself on the big screen, butted between Hollywood dross and auteur works. There is a pleasing running commentary, non-condescending educative elements and wry look at “stuff about narrative and clichés”. Also in issue #1, a great piece about Gareth Edwards and what looks to be a continuing essay on the “Rise of the Movie Monster”. It is good.
www.gorillafilmmagazine.com

South African Townships, Barbershops & Salons Simon Weller

The title is the short answer to the what? question. The rest is this is a photographic book, interspersed with subliminally edifying interviews about the nature of the work, the community and the social importance of these places. The paintings themselves are incredible, some of the featured artists have exhibited their work outside of the townships, and the lens Weller casts on them are palpably friendly and honest, a joy in fact. Best quote after complimenting a barber on their artwork – ""This is not Will Smith," he protests. “It is Martin Lawrence!”"
www.simonweller.com
www.markbattypublishing.com

Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary % Sully Sullivan & Elliott Barker%

Firstly, since when is Sonic 20? That’s mental. A statement that will no doubt resound with the rest of you who suddenly feel very long in the tooth… Anyway, Elliott and Sully have created this lovely homage to the inexplicably blue hedgehog and the 16-bit graphics that propelled Sega to coolness and now, classicness. The mechani-crabs from Emerald Hill Zone, Act 2 feature, so do the irritating, non grateful woodland critters that disperse after you spend hours getting to them. Sonic is great. And so is the screen print cover the book comes wrapped in.
www.cargocollective.com/elliottbarker
www.cargocollective.com/sullysullivan

Better than a Punch in the Skull the Oxygen Time Bomb

The list of things that are better then being punched is potentially quite long. But we’re confident when we say that taking the time to devise and create a nice zine, fill it with an obvious calligraphic ability, snapshots and an eye for striking aesthetics, is pretty high up on the list for creative productivity and against mindless violence.
behance.net/oxygen_timebomb

Fonts in Focus 8: Typing for Eternity Akira Kobayashi

true reflection and exploration of Typography today. Typefaces exposed in a way that is both informative and easily digestible for the reader. Legends such as Jan Tschichold are mentioned throughout, alongside some great features such as “Typography For Young Readers”. A well rounded publication for type enthusiasts.

www.issuu.com/fontsinfocus8
www.lintotype.com