Zines: Zines 101

As technology takes over our lives, physical publications we can touch and share become even more special. Zines are a great example of this, having been part of alternative culture for the last 50 years.

What are Zines?

• Definition: Zines (pronounced like "magazines" without the "maga") are independently produced, small-circulation publications that typically explore niche topics, personal perspectives, or alternative viewpoints not found in mainstream media.
• DIY Focus: They are independently made magazines that focus on DIY (do-it-yourself) art and writing.
• Community Building: Zines help build communities and challenge unfair systems.
• Accessibility: They are easy and cheap to make and share.

History of Zines

• 1930s: Zines started with a simple copying machine called the mimeograph.
• 1970s: They became more popular with the advent of photocopiers.
• Subcultures: Different groups like queercore and punk used zines to express themselves.
• 1990s: The riot grrrl movement used zines to fight for women's rights and against patriarchy.

Subcultures and Zines

• Correspondence Scene (1969-1980): Used zines for social commentary, inspired by European avant-garde art.
• Punk Culture (Late 1970s): Zines were used to show anger and resistance.
• Queer Culture: Zines were used to share culture and fight for respect, creating terms like "homocore" and "queercore."

Zines and Activism

• Voice for the Marginalized: Zines gave a voice to queer and trans communities, helping them stand up against oppression.
• Creative Resistance: They allowed people to express love and creativity as a form of resistance.

Zines as Primary Sources

Zines can be used as primary sources to study a variety of topics, offering unique insights often not found in mainstream publications.

• Diverse Perspectives: Zines provide a forum for marginalized voices and underrepresented points of view, reflecting societal diversity and offering perspectives that can be more accurate than mainstream media.
• DIY Ethos: Zines embody a DIY ethos that prioritizes self-expression and community-building over profit or mainstream acceptance, making them rich sources of information about subcultures, social movements, and personal experiences.
• Historical Documents: Zines can serve as historical documents, providing insight into how people write their own histories and network around shared experiences. They capture aspects of campus or community life that might be difficult to archive otherwise.
• Materiality: The physical nature of zines, including materials and production methods, offers valuable insights. Techniques like cut-and-paste, ink stains, and handwritten text provide glimpses into the creative process and historical context.
• Challenging Authority: Zines challenge traditional publishing hierarchies and notions of authority, making them valuable for studying alternative information networks.

Research and Instruction Applications

• Analyzing Content: Zine content can be analyzed to identify recurring themes, perspectives, and information literacy practices, including language, imagery, and presentation.
• Studying Subcultures and Movements: Zines provide insights into the values and ideologies of various subcultures, social movements, and activist communities.
• Understanding Information Literacy: Zines offer opportunities to study how people create, disseminate, and access information outside traditional publishing structures.
• Exploring Personal Experiences: Personal zines (perzines) contain personal accounts valuable for studying identity, mental health, and other personal topics.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Zines are useful for exploring interdisciplinary topics across various disciplines.
• Teaching Tool: Zines promote information literacy and critical thinking, inspiring students to challenge traditional notions of credibility, access, scholarship, and copyright. Students can create their own zines to engage with course material and explore their perspectives.

Considerations for Using Zines

• Originality: Zines are often unique and may not conform to traditional cataloging rules.
• Context: Understanding the historical and cultural context of a zine is important for interpreting its meaning.
• Accessibility: Zines are often produced in small quantities and distributed through informal networks, which may make them difficult to access.
• Preservation: Consider how to preserve both the physical objects and digital content of zines.
• Ethical Considerations: Respect the zine creator's intentions and wishes when using their work.

By using zines as primary sources, researchers and students can gain a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, subcultures, and social movements, challenging traditional notions of authority and information access.