In our age of blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, it is abundantly clear that everyone has a voice and wants to be heard. In the "analog" world, the form of expression which best mirrors this desire of expression is zines, which combines the message with a medium that is accessible, artistic, and individual, not to mention commercially viable.
A zine (which takes its moniker from 'magazine') can be conceived of as a paper booklet containing any sort of information and is usually hand crafted and distributed, though the boundaries of the medium are constantly being pushed by those who make them (i.e. 'zinesters').
First created, in their modern sense, as 'fanzines', these booklets were a way for science fiction and pulp fans of the 1930's-60's to be able to critique popular literature and also communicate with each other. Zine topics expanded in the 1970's-80's as a way to review and discuss 'Punk' music and mentality. The process of photocopying (or mimeographing) and hand-distributing related to the Do It Yourself attitude, opening the door to the plethora of minority interest topics, with everything from gardening to comics to health and having a good day.
In the later 20th century up through today, 'zine culture' has expanded to greater numbers of people making them, more formalized and recognized modes of display and distribution, and further craftsmanship in choice of paper and design. There are also more shops across the country, such as Portland's 'Reading Frenzy' and Chicago's 'Quimby's Bookstore', which collect and showcase zines from across the world.
But why would anyone want to go through the labor of creating a zine when typing a rant into a forum or posting a picture on a blog is so much easier? The proof lies in the product:
1.) By producing a zine, you now have a product which you can call your own. This actually impresses far more people than you would think. I like to use the mentality that 90% of the world isn't doing what you're doing, allowing you free reign to create something that is unique. When you create a zine, not only is your message floating around, passing from hand to hand, spreading by word of mouth and by mail, but you have also created a cultural artifact, something people will remember you by every time they pick it up.
2.) There ARE a lot of people making zines and as soon as you make one, you can call yourself a 'zinester'. It's like a club that's really simple to join but will stay with you forever. Sharing your ideas is one part of the game, while the other is sharing your experience of the craft (the blood, sweat, and fun that went into making the zine.) Its in this commonality that you'll find the support, both in community and in money, to keep furthering your expression (such as the Portland Zine Symposium).
3.) It's fun. Really! You can be a serious and outraged or silly and absurd as you want to in your zines! Make someone laugh, make someone cry, make someone learn something.
Ultimately, it starts as a hobby which ends up supporting itself and if you press even further, pumping out regular issues, meeting others and reading their zines, and believing in yourself, it can start to support your livelihood. Create that portal out of your crummy job and make a zine today!
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