Little Galore: The Story of Pussy Galore in the Typeface World

Little Galore The Story of Pussy Galore in the Typeface World Script by Adelista Widjaya Illustrated by Adelista Widjaya June 2020 GRAP2199 Communication Design Studies RMIT University

Once upon a time, in a Typeface Magical World, lived a little girl named Pussy Galore. She lived with her mom, Ms. Galore. Little Galore was a kind and clever girl with a highly inquisitive attitude.

One night, when Galore was about to sleep, her mom sent her off as usual.

Suddenly, Galore asked her.

“Mom, what are we actually? What am I? Her mom then smiled and answered, “You are the bravest typeface in this Type-World, Honey.

I've always told you so.” Little Galore was not satisfied with her answer. “But I still don’t understand who i really am and why we’re here.”

Her mom then caressed her hair and said, “Are you ready to hear this amazing story about you?” With an overflowing excitement Little Galore shrieked, “Of course! I always love history!”

“You are the most amazing experimental typeface!

You are still a part of the typeface family because you still work on the human keyboard, yet you are far more than just a normal alphabet!

1

superpower to summon pictographs and word pictures!”

As you know, you have a

Suddenly Mrs. Galore pressed Little Galore’s nose and out goes a projection of symbols in the ceilings of their room, “This is what you are! It’s your superpower. Look at those letterforms! You are different and that’s what makes you so powerful.”

Little Galore asks, “Wow..! So if humans use me as a typeface, when they press the letter ‘f’ on their keyboard, a ‘freedom’ picture will come out?!”

Mrs. Galore proudly raised her two fingers, “2 thumbs up for you!

What’s even cooler is they can explore the ideas of women empowerment, stereotypes, choices, and bad language through the use of shift and option keys in human keyboard!

It is really like a message in a font, including simple line drawings of the female anatomy and references about some ‘Hidden Heroes’ who have made important contributions to art, design and film. The original purpose to why the Creators made you was very noble.”

Little Galore was quiet for a moment then asked, “Who is ‘The Creators’ and

why did they create me?”

Mrs. Galore responded, “This is where the story begins. Once upon a time, in the late 1960s, feminist movement skyrocketed. Two female humans are famous for their satirical essays in a newspaper from New York which they edited themselves. They wrote about how the English language was simply a tool for men to persecute women!”

Mrs. Galore stopped and took a Human Dictionary. “See these words, darling. ‘Season’, ‘person’, even ‘woman’. Somehow, ‘man’ has always been a component in these words. Son in season, man in woman.”

Little Galore frowned, “That’s terrible, Mom!” Mrs. Galore answered, “Definitely! They decided to replace them with a more neutral word like ‘person’ to ‘perone’, and ‘woman’ to ‘woperone’. But nothing was changed. And look now, English is still a world-wide used International language. Most of us typefaces even speak this language!

Ever since, women have been degraded culturally and socially, including in the Graphic Design World, and in our world, the Typeface World. Even with the growth of female designers, only a few wanted to fight off. Until finally in the year 1994, the heroes were willing to step up for it.

There was this typography magazine called FUSE. They held a conference where on stage a group of all male, white, middle class type designers. Not that they hated guys,

but where are the women?

With this, these three heroes—Teal Triggs, Liz McQuiston and Sian Cook, avenged a gang called the Women’s Design and Research Unit. It’s a design communicty based in England

with the purpose of tackling gender inequality in the design sphere, our world!

After the FUSE conference, the director of FUSE asked them to contribute to their magazine. The theme was ‘Propaganda’.

Of course they said yes. They knew this was an opportunity to raise awareness about the lack of women in the field, by experimenting typeface with the language used for women!

So, the magic began through making a new typeface design as a new way to raise awareness! They made fonts of pictorial symbols, and word-bites that magically appear when human press their keyboard keys. And through all that, you were made!

Little Galore was surprised and asked with enthusiasm, “So, do you mean those heroes…, The Creators…, they made me??” Mrs. Galore giggled and quickly answered, “Yes, exactly! Those heroes are Your Creators!” Little Galore showed a wide grin, “Wow! I’m made by heroes! It’s like 3 wonder-women made me!” Mrs. Galore laughed, “Yes, 3 wonder-woperones made you, sweetheart!”

“But…

Why Pussy Galore?

I mean, I love my name, but that’s not a really common name, isn’t it, Mom?” Mrs. Galore asked, “Have you ever heard a story of a stunning lady named Pussy Galore besides yourself?” asked Mrs. Galore. Little Galore said, “Never.. besides myself.”

Mrs. Galore went on, “So, actually, they named you after the fabulous character played by a human lady called Honor Blackman in the James Bond film Goldfinger. She is a movie character known for her role as the leader of an all-lesbian organized gang.

In the movie, Galore and her gang were hired by Goldfinger—the main antagonist in this movie—to take down Fort Knox soldiers and contaminate one billion dollars of gold using a nuclear bomb to make it radioactive. Eventually, this assists in increasing the value of Goldfinger’s gold holdings. Surprisingly, Galore secretly betrayed Goldfinger and alerte the CIA.”

Little Galore was startled, “Wow…. Even in the movie, I was a hero! What made the creators named me after that cool lady? Don’t you think it’s too much that I was named after it?” Mrs. Galore smiled, “That name is perfect for you and what you’ve always done! The Creators calls the character Pussy Galore a ‘woman with a mission’. She used her charm as a tool of power rather than a weakness.

She was wonderfully sexy and at the same time strong and in control.”

Little Galore remained silent and contemplated, “Then, what does The Creators actually want humans to understand when they use me?

What is their mission for the human world?”

Mrs. Galore took the Human Globe and began to explain. “Actually, their purpose has always been

to raise awareness about women designer and find out the roots of misconception about women.

Our purpose is not just for fun. It is beyond that, they can ponder on the words we have, with our characters that celebrate women. Hopefully humans will question the conventional stereotypes, both positive and negative.

With our nature as a typeface, every human can download us at anytime! Whether they want to use us to make design, or just to play a ‘digital hide-and-seek’ to search for the hidden messages. But for sure, it’s the experiences that gives meaning to each character.

Although we aren’t included as default font in a computer, humans around the world notice our existence and explore further about us in their research! The Creators always said if they reached just one student or designer, the whole project was worthwhile! Those have always been their mission since the first time we were created.”

Little Galore was astonished, “We really brought a big mission didn’t we? How has it been in the Human World, Mom? Is their mission completed?

Have we made big changes in the Human World?”

“Actually we kinda started it! The Creators always want design to be a tool for women to voice out upon women’s issues. And we are actually how the Women’s Design + Research Unit were formed. We are their first project in starting their mission. We have made a mark in the history of graphic design, and with this,

we have helped to embrace genderdiversity and against oppression of the minority!

There is still a long way to go. People who care, like The Creators, still need to challenge the status quo.

In the past 26 years, look how big our typeface has become! We were featured in books publication, typography magazines, along with feminist magazines! We have also participated in exhibitions in Paris, at the UK, Poland and certainly many more. Now, we are a part of the Collection of the National Modern Art Museum in Paris. That’s how much impact you have brought to the human world!”

Listening to how powerful Pussy Galore has been in the human world, Little Galore’s eyes glowed and she placed the biggest smile in her tiny face.

“I never knew we’ve always been heroes for humans since we seem small and limited...

You know I’ve always wanted to be a human, right?”

Mrs. Galore answered, “Yes no one knows better than I do! Now you know the human world isn’t only about more superpowers right?”

“I don’t understand why there are mean humans... Why do they trample other humans just because they’re a woman? I’m actually glad we don’t have that kind of cruelty in this little typeface world. I’m a happy typeface. I’m proud that I am Pussy Galore! And I hope we can help humans to be more kind to each other...”

Hearing that, Mrs. Galore became very pleased of her child, “I’m so proud of you, Little Galore! We will never understand the complexity of the human world. This kind of cruelty has been forever. That is why, with humans like The Creators who care, hopefully, slowly the world will become a better place...”

Little Galore let out a big yawn and folded her arms together.

A bliss of hope was spoken out of the innocent, honest, and hopeful child’s mouth.

“I hope, maybe, one day, a time will come where all creatures and individuals receive the justice and happiness they deserve...�

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