What is a zine (pronounced ZEEN, like magazine)? A zine is a self-published mini magazine that can be about pretty much anything you can think of. Zines are about sharing information and ideas with other people (brattyxbre, 2022). Martin Luther's 95 Theses could be considered an early "zine", but the term has only existed since the 1930s. Pamphlets and broadsides, like Common Sense by Thomas Paine, are early forms of zines, too. Zines have always been a way to express ideas that go against the mainstream way of thinking. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, zines were used by creatives going against the mainstream (beat poets, avant garde artists, sci-fi writers, etc.). Zines were popular during the Harlem Renaissance and you can even read one online (Stapleton, 2021). Zines were a major part of punk culture from the 1970s-1990s, especially with the riot grrl movement of the 90's.
Resources for digital zine creation.
Want to make a zine but don't know where to start? Ponder the prompts listed below:
There are many excellent guides with information and resources about zines! While this LibGuide is specifically about digital zine making, you can use these resources to discover physical zine making. It is impossible to have it all in once place so, check out a few linked below.
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