The Simple Explanation
Zines (pronounced "zeens") are cut-and- paste, sorry this is late, self-published magazines reproduced at Kinko's or on the sly at work and distributed through mail order and word of mouth. They touch on sex, music, politics, television, movies, work, food, whatever. They're Tinkertoys for malcontents. They're obsessed with obsession. They're extraordinary and ordinary. They're about strangeness but since it's usually happening somewhere else you're kind of relieved. You can get to know people pretty well through their zines, which are always more personal and idiosyncratic than glossy magazines because glossies and the celebrities they worship are so busy being well known. (from The Book of Zines, www.zinebook.com).
The More Complex Explanation
Zines, historically began as underground press political organizations. Some editors even go as far to compare what we do today to Ben Franklin's print shop distributing political propoganda. OK. Over the years, as technology became mildly available, it was common for the average citizen to have access to a "mimeograph" machine and an idea.
Later, these same ideas evolved into underground publications on specific topics - "fanzines" - were zines devoted to a topic of worship - such as Sci Fi, Comics, Music, a particular band, or literary figure. Fanzines were zines done for love and not for profit. Remember, these definitions are quite broad: since the 60s and 70s, zines could pretty be anything that their creator made them.
Now, with wide access to technology, there are print zines, web zines (zines with a www address), e-zines (zines sent via email). The boundaries of what a zine in becomes more and more blurred with the availability of technology. 8 years ago, I was hand-stapling and pasting my zine. Now, it would be quite easy for me to mass produce my zine in a slick format on glossy paper, get a sale code, some ads, promote it, and call myself Tina Brown. But I personally like to stick to the DIY feel of zines.Tell us about your zine! Send your zine for review via email to kellylovejohnson@hotmail.com.
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