|
Now that is old school! :D Using a fountan pen is definitively not continued where I live in Norway. The elementary school curriculum used to contain "løkkeskrift" up until the 70's, which is loosly translated to "curly writing," or fine writing. However most schools switched to using pencils during the 50's and 60's, so only older people in Norway remember having to learn "løkkeskrift" using a fountain pen. Lately there has sadly even been discussions on removing some of the pencil writing exercises entirely to the benefit of learning to type instead. However some studies claim that pupils retain more information, and hence learn more, when they use a pencil or pen to take notes, rather than a keyboard. There are still some good reasons to learn to write with a proper pen. The nib gives quite a unique stroke, seeing as it's flexible, which is also why you see those varying strokes on good comics, such as those drawn by Albert Uderzo, or Franquin's hillarious Gaston Lagaffe, and not to mention his dark humour series, Idées Noires. Personally I've always been drawn to fine writing, and I started learning calligraphy quite early, inspired by the wonderful written illustrations from Tolkien's world. I was overjoyed when I found a whole box of old nibs in a bankrupt store one day. Some of them dated back to as far as the 1800's, though most were from the 40's. So I got as many as I could afford, and that's when I started writing mostly using "dipping pens" for my fine writing. On a trip to London I also found "the best calligraphy store in the world," L. Cornelissen & Son, well in my personal opinion anyway lol. So if you're into that stuff, and nearby London, this is a wonderful place to stop by. |
(As a leftie, I was not too happy with that. Switched to a ballpoint whenever I wasn't in school.)