07/16/2024 | DIY

What is a Zine?

Zines (pronounced ZEENS) are, in essence, miniature magazines. However, unlike magazines which aim to make a profit through ads and sales, zines are counterculture tools for self-expression, sharing information, and building community. They are not produced in bulk by corporations; rather, they are made by an individual or small group, and they are made with whatever tools are most accessible to the creator(s).

While many zinesters believe that the start of zines can be traced back to the science fiction fan magazines ("fanzines") of the 1930s and 40s, this belief whitewashes the "little magazines" of the Harlem Renaissance ^[1]. These zines, made almost exclusively by Black creators who were otherwise barred from being published, discussed such topics as race disparity, cultivating community in a world that would rather isolate people of color, and the experience of being a creative mind in the face of oppression. One famous example of these little magazines includes "FIRE!!: Devoted to Younger Negro Artists ^[2]."

Zines were also very popular amongst punks, feminists, the LGBTQIA+ communities, and other minority/counterculture movements in the 70s, 80s, and 90s as a form of protest and subverting censorship. Zines in this era were made by and for people in these subcultures, and they discussed anything and everything, from music, to political ideology, to simply individuals writing about their personal experiences. They were traded amongst fellow zinesters as a form of community bonding, used to advertise small bands or gatherings, spread ideas and concepts about the world, or left around the local area for people to find and enjoy at their leisure. In a time before the widespread use of the internet, zines were used to foster kinship and communication between individuals who might otherwise not have been able to interact with each other.

Why Should I Make Zines?

Now, in the modern day, most people have access to the internet and can reach other with the click of a button. It is no longer inconvenient to find out what's going on in the world, and the reach of communication is now virtually universal. This can create the illusion of connection and transparency, but there lacks a certain amount of intimacy, of kinship. We also still struggle with censorship, to one extent or another, and this censorship can create a veil between the people and those that govern the people. Regardless of how you look at it, the world can always do with more connection, even despite the use of the internet. What's more, contrary to popular belief, there are many people who do not, in fact, have internet access. Those people still matter, and they are still reachable.

As mentioned earlier, zines can be about anything. Perhaps you enjoy talking about a particular topic, but you don't have anyone in your immediate life to talk to about the topic. Maybe you would like to vent about a particular occurrance in your life, but the topic at hand is too vulnerable to shout into the "void" that is the internet (which someone will inevitably read). Or maybe you have a piece of information that you feel is important to share with your community, and you don't think your social media reach is wide enough to get to the right people. Whatever your interests or desires are, there is almost certainly something you could express in a zine!

Some common zine subgenres include (but are not limited to):

• Perzines - Personal zines, which discuss topics personal to the creator, such as relationships, life experiences, likes/dislikes, or trauma
• Fanzines - These are zines made by fans of media, and can include art, fanfic, or opinions on TV shows, books, movies, or any other piece of media
• Infozines - Informational zines that discuss factual topics of interest or import to the creator and aim to share knowledge with the reader
• Art Zines - Art zines are what they sound like - they generally contain little to no prose, instead displaying drawings, collages, or other pieces of art
• Poetry Zines - Very similar to art zines, poetry zines contain poetry either written or compiled by the creator

One of the most compelling things about zines is that, true to their nature of being created and distributed by one person or a small group of people, zines do not have a set expectation for their appearance or content. That is to say, they don't have to be perfect! Some of the best and most interesting zines were cobbled together in less than an hour, made using whatever components the creator has on hand (sometimes including actual trash or paper scraps), torn instead of cut, copied and printed in a substandard printer, and folded quickly rather than perfectly. While some people may prefer to make their zines visually aesthetic and clean, this is by no means an expectation for the medium, making them incredibly accessible to virtually everyone. You don't have to be an artist to make a zine!

How Do I Make a Zine?

While there are several styles of zines that can be made, perhaps the most accessible is the classic 8-page minizine. This style uses only a single sheet of paper folded onto itself. While this style is small and compact, its no-pressure and easily-accessible nature can present a beautiful challenge to refine your concept into a bite-sized, easy-to-read booklet that anyone will enjoy.

What you will need:

• A sheet of paper (any size will do)
• Something to cut the paper (scissors, a box cutter, or even your thumb nail)
• A writing tool (pencil, pen, paint, ink, etc)

Optional:

• A paper creasing tool (a bone folder, penny, the back of scissors, or a ruler all work well, but your thumb nail will also perfectly suffice)
• Glue or another binding tool
• Interesting paper scraps/washi tape/stickers/etc (useful if you want to collage or embellish)
• A method of reproducing if you want to share your zine (if you don't own a scanner/printer, your local library or print shop will generally offer cheap rates, but you can also make several copies of your zine by hand)

Step 1:

Fold your paper in half hotdog/landscape style, making sure to align the corners and edges flush to each other. Crease the fold until the paper lies flat. Then, unfold the paper and fold in half again, this time hamburger/portrait style. Crease again. Finally, while the paper is still folded, fold the paper in half one more time in the same direction and crease.

Step 2:

Unfold the paper once, leaving the paper folded hamburger/portrait style. Make a cut or tear in the middle section relative to the fold, cutting/tearing only to the horizontal line in the center. DO NOT GO PAST THIS LINE. Once this cut is made, unfold the whole paper. You should be left with a sheet of paper divided into 8 sections with a slit in the middle.

Step 3:

Loosely re-fold the paper hotdog/landscape style, making sure that the two open edges of the paper are at the bottom, and the folded portion with the slit is at the top. Gently pinch the far ends of the paper with your hands, then slowly push the two ends together such that the slit begins to open and the pages begin to fold. When the far ends meet each other and the pages have formed, fold the two outside pages down so that the zine begins to form. (It's okay if this step doesn't make sense; if that's the case, please watch the linked video above for more information.)

Step 4:

Decorate your zine! This is where it begins to take personality. You can write your thoughts, draw on it, paste paper down, paint on it, or whatever else you want to do!

Step 5 (if you'd like to distribute your zine):

Once you've finished your zine, unfold it completely. Scan your zine, then print as many copies as you'd like to distribute! You can leave them around your local area, donate them to libraries, trade with other zinesters, or even give them away! You can also sell them online or to local bookstores.

Conclusion

Zines are an important tool for self-expression and sharing information, even in the age of the internet. They are an extremely accessible way of getting published, as you are the one publishing. Zines empower creators to share their thoughts with the world, regardless of anything other than themselves. With that in mind, the only thing stopping you from making zines is yourself!

Go make a zine!