DIY Zines

https://consciousbychloe.com/2025/02/26/my-zine-library/

What is a Zine?

A zine is a self-published creation made for passion rather than profit.

Zines are:

Independently produced.
Physical or digital — they can be a single sheet or many pages, usually stapled together.
- Physical copies are often photocopied, but may also be printed via offset, mimeograph, letterpress, or Risograph.
Made by individuals or groups (the latter called comp zines or compilation zines).
Open to any topic imaginable — from personal narratives to lists, politics, photography, mental health tips, fiction, artwork, and comics.
Created by a global, diverse community of “zinesters.”

Zine Culture — Why They Matter

Offer a platform for marginalized voices often absent in mainstream publishing.
Challenge conventional ideas about authority.
Reframe classroom and everyday conversations.
Transform personal thoughts into art.

A (Very Short) History of Zines

1517: Luther’s 95 Theses — often considered the first major zine.
1770s: American Revolution broadsides.
1920s: Surrealist and Dada art critiques of the bourgeois.
1930s: Sci-fi fandom zines (Amazing Stories, Weird Tales).
1940s: Beat poetry chapbooks (e.g., Allen Ginsberg).
1950s: Samizdat — underground Soviet literature critical of the state.
1960s: Comics fanzines (The Comic Reader and others).
1970s: Punk culture zines — music, activism, nonconformity.
1990s: Riot grrrl feminist zines.
Today: Zine festivals, small press distros, and zine libraries thrive worldwide.

How to Make a Zine

You’ll need:

Paper (any type).
Pens, pencils, or markers.
A method for folding/binding — staples, folds, rubber bands, etc.
Repurposed materials — newspapers, fabric, art, stickers, washi tape, paint chips.
A photocopier, printer, or scanner for sharing.

Think about:

How you’ll fold the pages (halves, thirds, etc.).
How you’ll bind them (staples, rubber bands, thread).
What will reproduce best if photocopied or scanned for digital sharing.

Resources

Finding Images

Digital Zine-Making

Online Zines and Zine Archives