A Brief History of Zines and Why You Should Make One
Q: What the heck is a zine?
A: A zine is a self-published, easily reproduced, printed form of self expression. Pronounced like “zeen,” they are typically booklets made in small batches and distributed for a small fee, for free, or traded for other zines, goods, or services.
A zine can be almost anything: folded, stapled, taped, glued, sewn, stacked, or bound, and usually made with paper. The content of a zine can touch on any topic: from visual art and music to politics and environmentalism, to sexuality, humor, fashion, literary criticism, or personal memoir. The zine format can accommodate a wide range of ideas and expressive forms. You might find writing, drawings, photos, collages, or any other form of combining words and imagery. There might be a clear narrative, or the content could be completely abstract. A zine’s structure is totally up to the maker. To be a zine, the maker must identify the published product as a zine. By identifying something as a zine, these booklets can be differentiated from other types of independent publications. While all the characteristics of zines I’ve listed here are generally true, they are also just guidelines. The only rule of zines is that there are no rules.
A person who makes zines can be called a ‘zinester’ and is likely motivated by passion over profit, valuing self-expression and intellectual and artistic vision over success under capitalism. Zine culture has historically been anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist. To many zinesters, the community found through making, reading, and trading zines is just as important as the printed publication.
A Brief History of Zines
The history of zines is often traced back to science fiction fans in 1930’s Chicago, but I think we can go back much further. While the term ‘zine’ has only existed since the 30’s, self-published booklets and pamphlets are not a new idea. People with independent ideas have been sharing their words and opinions since there were printing presses.
1440’s: Guides for how to practice witchcraft
1450–1750: Guides for how to catch witches
1517: Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses
Self-publishing has played a key part in many acts of resistance. Though the term zine hadn’t been coined yet, movements like the American Revolution were fueled and supported by zine-like publications.
1732–1759: Poor Richard’s Almanac by Ben Franklin
1775: Common Sense by Thomas Paine
1788: Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
1840s: Women’s suffrage zines, including The National Citizen edited by Matilda Joslyn Gage
1848: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles
1920’s: “Little Magazines” popularized during the Harlem Renaissance (Read “Fire!! Devoted to Younger Negro Artists” for free here)
The word “fanzine” came out of sci-fi fan culture during the Great Depression era. Fans were not happy with what they considered bad writing, so they began to make and share their own fan made magazines-or FANZINES. The Comet began publishing in 1930.
1944: First xerox machine produced
1958: First commercial photocopier produced
During the 70’s and 80’s, DIY zine culture became deeply linked with the punk scene of London, LA, and New York. Zines flourished in the 90’s with feminist punk movement riot grrrl. As a format, zines lend themselves to the voices of the marginalized: you can write, print, and distribute whatever you need to say, no permission required.
Zines in the Mainstream
Though zines have long been associated with counter-culture movements and those on the margins of society, they’ve trickled into mainstream spaces over time. Eventually, alternative culture will be recognized, co-opted, and commodified by mainstream culture. Rolling Stone began in 1967 as a zine filled with Hunter S. Thompson’s political reporting. In 2016, Kanye West tweeted: “Zine pronounced Zine short for magazine. A lot of people pronounce it wrong.”
The tweet was referencing a publication Kanye had made to accompany his second line of footwear for his brand, Yeezy. It’s not surprising that Kanye feels connected with the spirit of zine culture, as he likes to brand himself as an outsider. While Kanye is correct in saying that a lot of people pronounce it wrong, he wrongly assumes zine is shortened from magazine instead of fanzine. I’m eager to dispute this remark because zines have much more in common with artfully designed books than they do with magazines funded by ad placement revenue. At the end of the day, identifying what you’ve made as a zine is the only thing necessary to make something a zine. However, Kanye’s zines are made to help promote his brand, and this overtly capitalist effort is a clear departure from zine culture’s anti-capitalist origins.
Amy Poehler directed and starred in the 2021 Netflix film Moxie (based on the book of the same name by Jennifer Mathieu). The film tells the story of shy teenager Vivian, who anonymously publishes a zine calling out sexism at her school and accidentally starts a revolution. Vivian is inspired by her mom’s (played by Poehler) past as a punk rock riot grrrl in the 90’s
Why Should I Make a Zine?
There are so many reasons why you could and should make a zine. Here are just a few:
-Tell your story
-Protest harm happening in your community
-Process a difficult time
-Support your art practice
-Connect with others
-Record an experience
-Create a collection
-Teach a process
-Inform people about a topic
-Share your manifesto
“The most important zine you will ever make is your first zine. It is likely to be awful and that is okay, even encouraged. Zines are always works in progress, just like people.” Davida Breier, editor of Xerography Debt (Quoted on pg. 27 of Make a Zine by Joe Biel)
I personally recommend the no-staples zine format for first-time zinesters. If you’re new to zine making, a piece of paper, a scissor, something to draw with, and an idea are all you need to get started.
Books About Zines
Make a Zine: Start Your Own Underground Publishing Revolution by Joe Biel with Bill Brent
