Zines have been a significant aspect of different cultures for decades. As small, self-published original works that are usually produced using a copy machine, they give a voice to those who may not be heard otherwise, especially regarding areas such as punk, science fiction, the LGBTQ+ community and others.
The Cullom-Davis Library partnered with Bradley’s Women and Gender Studies Program to offer a zine-making workshop on Oct. 30. Librarians Christina Norton, Jennifer Stubbs and Natalie Jipson, Bradley affiliate instructor of Women’s and Gender Studies, hosted the event.
“[Zines are] a DIY way to share art ideas and connections outside the mainstream,” Norton said.
Zines, named for their similarity to magazines, have offered independent artists and writers a chance to distribute their works for years.
The mini magazines are especially relevant during OUTober, a celebration of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, because of their significance in the LGBTQ+ community. Many LGBTQ+ authors and creators used zines to share their works that weren’t officially published.
“[Zines are] a mirror or a window to a place that is not controlled or policed,” Stubbs said.
Attendees at the workshop watched a short presentation on zines. After learning about their history and significance, students created their own.
The library provided scissors, old magazines, construction paper and other materials to create the zines, along with many options for binding them. They could be bound with staples, glue or by being sewn. Zines can be made in a variety of sizes, with some being almost as large as a traditional magazine and others smaller than your palm.
In today’s age, much of the content traditionally found in zines appears on Tumblr, but students still find value in the physical creation.
Located in the Cullom-Davis Library, zines are available for students to see and check out for themselves.
“As a librarian, I deal a lot with the publishing mainstream,” Norton said. “It’s easy to see stuff get excluded, so I love zines as a way to see people expressing themselves.”
