Zine Resources

Online Resources

Barnard Library: What Are Zines? http://www.barnard.edu/library/zines/whatarezine

s.htm Great introductory info about zines, with visual

examples of different types of zines; also has links to

more websites, & scholarly resources.

Zine Wiki

http://zinewiki.com An open source encyclopedia covering zines and

independent media: the “history, production,

distribution, and culture of the small press.”

Utne Reader: How to Make Your Own Zine http://www.utne.com/media/how-to-make-your-

own-zine.aspx Includes 10-minute online video demonstrating how to

create a zine as well as an offer to receive newly-

created zines at the magazine’s address.

Gurl Guide to Zine Making

http://www.gurl.com/findout/guides/pages/0,,625

067,00.html Interactive tutorial providing ideas for different zine

layouts, themes, and sizes, and also covers copying,

distribution, and introductory information.

Zine Library http://zinelibrary.info/ Variety of zines to freely download and print or read

online; zines can also be uploaded to the site to share

with others. Number of topics are covered,

commenting is welcomed.

Factsheet Five http://www.factsheet5.org/ One of the most well-known zine review sources,

always taking submissions for publishing/review.

Zine–related El Centro Library Books

Hard Love – Ellen Wittlinger (Fiction)

PZ 7.W78436 Har 1999 Middle College Books

After starting to publish a zine in which he writes

his secret feelings about his lonely life and his

parents' divorce, sixteen-year-old John meets an

unusual girl and begins to develop a healthier

personality.

People’s Movements, People’s Press: The

Journalism of Social Justice Movements

– Bob Ostertag

PN 4888 .U5 O88 2006 Main Collection

More coming soon!

Created 07/10

214.860.2174 http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/Library

Zines

Zines are self-published mini-magazines in

small print runs, often in a cut-and-paste

style. Zine creators (or zinesters) make these

unique items as a labor of love, not often

seeking monetary profit, so they also tend to

be non-copyrighted.

Zines, which you will find by the El Centro

Library magazines, cover a variety of topics

(see inside for our titles). Creative endeavors,

zines tend to represent niche interests, giving

an alternative view on many subjects. We

hope you will enjoy and be inspired by our

collection.

More information inside!

How did zines begin?

The term zine was spawned from “fanzine,” first

brought into use in the 1930’s, referring to

science fiction fan magazines. However, zines

truly got their start a couple centuries ago in the

form of pamphlets and leaflets as a way for

individuals, often with less popular opinions, to

get their voices heard.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense could really be

considered one of the first zines; even Benjamin

Franklin self-published his thoughts. As Congdon

& Blandy note, “Such pamphlets were crucial to

the American Revolution, the emancipation of

slaves, women’s suffrage, the labor movement,

and the civil rights movement” (2008).

Very brief 20th

century zine timeline:

1910’s – Dadaist zines or “little magazines”

1920’s – Surrealist zines

1930’s – Science Fiction Fanzines

1950’s & 1960’s – The Beats: poetry, anti-war

1970’s & 1980’s – Punk & Hardcore movements

1990’s – Riot Grrrl (a feminist genre in

independent music), feminist zines

Zine topics are not always political, and can often

be very personal or simply creative. Anyone can

make a zine; there are no rules in zines, and that

is what makes them so unique and powerful.

References

Congdon, K. G., & Blandy, D. (2003, May). Zinesters in the

classroom: Using zines to teach about postmodernism and

the communication of ideas. Art Education, 56(3), 44-52.

Duncombe, S. (1997). Notes from underground: Zines and

the politics of alternative culture. New York: Verso

Freedman, J. (2005). Zines are not blogs: A not unbiased

analysis. Retrieved from Barnard College Library website:

http://www.barnard.edu/library/zines/zinesnotblogs.htm

Why make a zine?

“Zines celebrate the everyperson in a

world of celebrity” (Duncombe 1997).

To share your story with others

To inform people of an important topic

that might not get as much coverage in

mainstream media

For a creative outlet

Some types of zines: Art zines

Compilation zines

DIY/Instructional

Fanzines

Literary zines

Mamazines

Minicomics

Personal zines

Travel zines

What is the difference

between zines and blogs?

With zines, there is no one else to answer to; blogs,

on the other hand, require stability and essentially

approval of the internet service provider. If

material is considered offensive it can be removed,

and likewise, if a blog-publishing provider were to

close down, those blogs could disappear.

Zines can be distributed anywhere by anyone, with

fewer barriers. To create zines, only paper, pen,

scissors, and some glue is necessary, whereas blogs

require access to a computer and the internet,

which also limits who can read them

(Freedman 2005).

El Centro Zines

Current zines in the library:

Avow #20 personal stories, living in the city, relationships

Ask First! stopping sexual assault

Carbusters #40 promoting public transportation

Commune in Chiapas Zapatistas

Constant Rider Omnibus public transportation comic zine

Everything Dies #1 comic zine: each religion’s views on death

Figure 8 #3 fat studies/body image

Friends Make the Best Medicine community organizing

I Hate This Part of Texas #5, #7 New Orleans post-Katrina

Mamaphiles mothers and parenting

Old Weird America interesting stories about weird places in America

Papercutter #1 comic compilation zine: emerging comic artists

Rad Dad #12 dads and parenting

Railroad Semantics #2 traveling and trains

Revolutionary Women Stencil Zine art/stencil zine of revolutionary women

She Must be Having a Bad Day stories of female food service workers

Show Me the Money #31 economics and money zine for those without much

Sick: Compilation Zine compiled stories about disease and sickness

Sidewalk Bump Zine skateboarding comic zine

Things Are Meaning Less personal comic zine