To zine or not to zine?

Tamsin Thomas
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

Are zines relevant in our digital society?

Apparently, July 2017 is International Zine Month. You may or may not have noticed. I have (obviously) and as happy as I am about it, I’m contemplating whether or not they’re still relevant. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE zines, have done for a very long time and imagine I will for until the end of days, but the question is worth at least some thougt, isn’t it?

As far as I’m concerned, zines have always existed in some form or another, and what constitutes a zine is another question.

According to Urban Dictionary’s Nick_V
“Zine” is short for fanzine. For all intensive purposes, a zine is a cheaply-made, cheaply-priced publication, often in black and white, which is mass-produced via photocopier and bound with staples.

Most zines revolve around a music scene of some sort, but others are dedicated to artwork, poetry, cartoons, editorials and short stories. Because zines do not have any sort of corporate backing, they are very rugged, individualized, and much more charismatic than larger, more popular magazines whose content is often dictated by their advertisers.

Most of which I agree with, especially the charismatic nature of them. The creator essentially bestows part of their soul upon every single zine they produce. As an artist does whilst creating a masterpiece.

I own a fair few zines, have seen quite a few more, and hardly any of them have revolved around a music scene. Maybe this is mentioned in the definition due to the prolific existence of the zine in the pre-social media era of the last century. Where the rise of punk was documented predominantly through art, photography and the accompanying zines.

There’s a plethora of topics covered by zines nowadays. From menstruation and mental illness to art and activism, there’s a zine about it, somewhere in the three-dimensional world. But also in the digital world. Digital zines are getting more copious. You can easily add your zine to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Although they may not be as recognisable as zines due to their two-dimensional nature, to me, they still are, and can reach a much bigger audience, without all the folding and stapling.

The spirit of the zine will never die, just as print won’t (controversial coming from a mainly digital designer.) The essence of art and craft contained within a few folded pages is worth so much more than the price tag. They’re a pure form of expression, un-edited, un-abated, collectable pieces of outsider art, with passion filled point(s) at the heart of the creation and production. People don’t get told to make them, zines are made to speak to you, the viewer, in the voice and art of the creator.

So, in conclusion, my answer is: Yes, zines are still relevant in this digital society, just as art is. They’re collectable, valid, exciting, inspiring, attractive and printed, what exactly is there not to like about that?

Go to a zine fair or event, make a zine, buy a zine. Whatever zine-related activity you do, you’re supporting a cross-societal community of creators. I don’t think that could ever be a bad thing.

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