Zines!

By Jax McKinnon

Many people are unfamiliar with these small, hand-made works of art called Zines. A Zine, pronounced like zeen, is a self-published and self-distributed issue in a small magazine-like format. It can be collaged, drawn, painted, or written, and contain essentially anything you want. They’re typically produced or photocopied in small, limited batches and are traditionally hand-made in a physical form; however, in more recent years, they have been produced and distributed online. Zines are often used as a means to spread an idea or art piece rather than for profit and are commonly free, extremely inexpensive, or made to trade for other goods. According to The Daily Tar Heel, “The first zine is often traced back to a 1930s effort by the Science Correspondence Club in Chicago. It was called The Comet, and it started a long-lasting trend of sci-fi-related zines.” While Zines can contain a plethora of content, they have historically been used as a medium to distribute and spread political ideas, gaining popularity and usage in the 90s punk scene.

Zines were used to circulate information to a specified audience, aiding groups in organizing themselves and strengthening their community. The underground “Riot Grrrl” movement was started in Olympia, Washington, by a series of women who were fed up with the misogyny in the punk scene. They proclaimed they needed a “Girl Riot” to change the way society treated women and their experiences, thus birthing the phrase “Riot Grrl” and initiating a push for equality in alternative spaces. Zines were commonly published during this time to organize and spread the manifesto of the movement. They were handmade and contained the key ideas of the “Riot Grrrl” movement, including things like anarchism, destruction of the patriarchy, and female empowerment. Riot Grrl became a prominent subculture pioneered by bands such a “Bikini Kill,” “Bratmobile,” “Heavens to Betsy,” and other punk and rock bands made up of women. Zines are a way for marginalized groups of people to publish and circulate their works, getting their voices heard in a time when they would otherwise be silenced. They also allow for a specific type of documentation that wouldn’t be provided or encouraged. The creation of one’s own news and events allowed for a fixed method of testimony that cannot be influenced by news outlets or bias. Political Zines were made with the intention of unionizing groups of people without interference from the government or oppressive authorities. This allows us to view the documentation of individual events and movements as unfiltered and straight from the minds of those who made it, exactly how they intended for it to be received.

While zines have a political background, they also allow for people to simply spread art and community. They’re used as a medium to distribute information about shows, bands, art, and writing. Zines containing stories, poetry, collages, and doodles are all made with the simple intention of spreading art and creativity. The best thing about Zines is that there are no rules. They are an accessible, easy, creative way to spread information or organize groups of people who would otherwise not have a platform to share their voices. The format is subjective, and the general guidelines are simply that, guidelines. There are no creative or formulaic rules to create your Zine, allowing anyone to make their own work of art and circulate it as they desire.