Amalgam 4: Collapse

Amalgam explores the intersection of typography, language, and power. Amalgam #4 points toward the inextricably intertwined relationships between typography, language, and power. In doing so, it assembles a series of essays, anecdotal notes, conversations, and artworks that engage with, hint at, or revolve around the theme of collapse. From collapse of language syntax, to collapse of semantics, barriers between languages, and language itself, this collection reverberates the material and immaterial conditions, formations, reproduction, and dissemination of power through language and typography. A series of revolutionary headdresses; the auditory and polemic bonds between the letters X, ח, and خ; the interiorities of illegibility; the downfall of the ancient Silk Road patterns; the West Asian Goddesses; an asemic grief; a deliberately missing language; a hearty stutter; and an Aleph that wore a hat to school. Contributors in this issue include Adrien Flores, JJJJJerome Ellis, Klara du Plessis, Sophie Seita, Luis Camnitzer, Slavs and Tatars, Mimi Ọnụọha, Minh Nguyen, Maia Ruth Lee, Mashinka Firunts Hakopian, Helina Metaferia, Paul Soulellis, Carlos Motta, Lucy I. Zimmerman, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Paul Benzon, Morehshin Allahyari, Anahita Razmi, J. Dakota Brown, Shabahang Tayyari, Mahan Moalemi, Dennis Grauel, Sasha Wilmoth, Thy Hà, and Alec Mapes-Frances Designed and edited by Pouya Ahmadi Published by Amalgam, 2023 Softcover, 200 pages, b&w, 6.5 × 9 inches ISBN: 978-0-99-983335-9