Zine Resources
Zines
Online Resources
Barnard Library: What Are Zines?
http://www.barnard.edu/library/zines/whatarezine
s.htm
Great introductory info about zines, with visual
examples of different types of zines; also has links to
more websites, & scholarly resources.
Zine Wiki
http://zinewiki.com
An open source encyclopedia covering zines and
independent media: the “history, production,
distribution, and culture of the small press.”
Utne Reader: How to Make Your Own Zine
http://www.utne.com/media/how-to-make-your-
own-zine.aspx
Includes 10-minute online video demonstrating how to
create a zine as well as an offer to receive newly-
created zines at the magazine’s address.
Gurl Guide to Zine Making
http://www.gurl.com/findout/guides/pages/0,,625
067,00.html
Interactive tutorial providing ideas for different zine
layouts, themes, and sizes, and also covers copying,
distribution, and introductory information.
Zine Library
http://zinelibrary.info/
Variety of zines to freely download and print or read
online; zines can also be uploaded to the site to share
with others. Number of topics are covered,
commenting is welcomed.
Factsheet Five
http://www.factsheet5.org/
One of the most well-known zine review sources,
always taking submissions for publishing/review.
Zine–related El Centro Library Books
Hard Love – Ellen Wittlinger (Fiction)
PZ 7.W78436 Har 1999 Middle College Books
After starting to publish a zine in which he writes
his secret feelings about his lonely life and his
parents' divorce, sixteen-year-old John meets an
unusual girl and begins to develop a healthier
personality.
People’s Movements, People’s Press: The
Journalism of Social Justice Movements
– Bob Ostertag
PN 4888 .U5 O88 2006 Main Collection
More coming soon!
Zines are self-published mini-magazines in
small print runs, often in a cut-and-paste
style. Zine creators (or zinesters) make these
unique items as a labor of love, not often
seeking monetary profit, so they also tend to
be non-copyrighted.
Zines, which you will find by the El Centro
Library magazines, cover a variety of topics
(see inside for our titles). Creative endeavors,
zines tend to represent niche interests, giving
an alternative view on many subjects. We
hope you will enjoy and be inspired by our
collection.
Created 07/10
214.860.2174 More information inside!
http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/Library
How did zines begin? Why make a zine? El Centro Zines
The term zine was spawned from “fanzine,” first “Zines celebrate the everyperson in a Current zines in the library:
brought into use in the 1930’s, referring to
science fiction fan magazines. However, zines
world of celebrity” (Duncombe 1997). Avow #20
truly got their start a couple centuries ago in the personal stories, living in the city, relationships
form of pamphlets and leaflets as a way for To share your story with others Ask First!
individuals, often with less popular opinions, to To inform people of an important topic stopping sexual assault
get their voices heard. that might not get as much coverage in Carbusters #40
mainstream media promoting public transportation
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense could really be For a creative outlet Commune in Chiapas
considered one of the first zines; even Benjamin Zapatistas
Franklin self-published his thoughts. As Congdon Constant Rider Omnibus
public transportation comic zine
& Blandy note, “Such pamphlets were crucial to Some types of zines:
the American Revolution, the emancipation of Art zines Everything Dies #1
comic zine: each religion’s views on death
slaves, women’s suffrage, the labor movement, Compilation zines
DIY/Instructional Figure 8 #3
and the civil rights movement” (2008). fat studies/body image
Fanzines
Friends Make the Best Medicine
Very brief 20th century zine timeline: Literary zines community organizing
1910’s – Dadaist zines or “little magazines” Mamazines I Hate This Part of Texas #5, #7
1920’s – Surrealist zines Minicomics New Orleans post-Katrina
1930’s – Science Fiction Fanzines Personal zines Mamaphiles
1950’s & 1960’s – The Beats: poetry, anti-war Travel zines mothers and parenting
1970’s & 1980’s – Punk & Hardcore movements Old Weird America
1990’s – Riot Grrrl (a feminist genre in interesting stories about weird places in America
independent music), feminist zines What is the difference Papercutter #1
comic compilation zine: emerging comic artists
Zine topics are not always political, and can often between zines and blogs? Rad Dad #12
be very personal or simply creative. Anyone can dads and parenting
make a zine; there are no rules in zines, and that With zines, there is no one else to answer to; blogs, Railroad Semantics #2
is what makes them so unique and powerful. on the other hand, require stability and essentially traveling and trains
approval of the internet service provider. If Revolutionary Women Stencil Zine
material is considered offensive it can be removed, art/stencil zine of revolutionary women
References and likewise, if a blog-publishing provider were to She Must be Having a Bad Day
close down, those blogs could disappear. stories of female food service workers
Congdon, K. G., & Blandy, D. (2003, May). Zinesters in the Show Me the Money #31
classroom: Using zines to teach about postmodernism and economics and money zine for those without much
the communication of ideas. Art Education, 56(3), 44-52. Zines can be distributed anywhere by anyone, with
fewer barriers. To create zines, only paper, pen, Sick: Compilation Zine
Duncombe, S. (1997). Notes from underground: Zines and compiled stories about disease and sickness
scissors, and some glue is necessary, whereas blogs
the politics of alternative culture. New York: Verso Sidewalk Bump Zine
require access to a computer and the internet, skateboarding comic zine
Freedman, J. (2005). Zines are not blogs: A not unbiased which also limits who can read them Things Are Meaning Less
analysis. Retrieved from Barnard College Library website: (Freedman 2005). personal comic zine
http://www.barnard.edu/library/zines/zinesnotblogs.htm