Zines in the Classroom

2018·1.3 MB·English

by  Cosima Storz

Zines in the

Classroom

Devyr
Press

By Cosima Storz

Ed. 7
© 2018 Cosima Storz
Why use zines in the classroom? East Coast Zine Festivals
Austen, TX http://www.lonestarzinefest.org/
Baltimore, MD https://diyfest.org/
Zines (pronounced ‘zeen’) have always
Brooklyn Zine Festival
been about sharing ideas with others and
https://brooklynzinefest.com/
existing as a counter against mass produced Chicago, IL http://chicagozinefest.org/
media. As a zine maker myself and as a Denver, CO
https://denverzinelibrary.org/2018/03/07/2017-
teacher, I think about who gets to author ideas
denver-zine-fest/
and who gets to put information out into the
Detroit, MI https://www.comixparty.com/
world. Zines are an exciting way to talk about a Los Angeles, CA https://lazinefest.com/
topic that a student is interested in and can Philadelphia Zine Fest
http://phillyzinefest.tumblr.com/
easily share it.
Olympia, WA https://olympiazinefest.org/

Miami, FL
https://exilebooks.com/blogs/events/19101051-
open-call-miami-zine-fair
New York Feminist Zine Festival

https://feministzinefestnyc.wordpress.com/

New York Queer Zine Fair

http://bgsqd.com/events/
Newark, NJ
http://www.thebettys.com/blog/bettyzinefest
Zines are a way for students to directly
New Orleans, LA http://www.nocazfest.com/
participate with ideas and information. Any
Portland, OR
opportunity for students to learn about what
http://www.portlandzinesymposium.org/
interests them and then to share it with others Richmond, VA https://richmondzinefest.org/
Seattle, WA http://shortrun.org/
means that their ideas are valued. Students
Washington D.C. http://dczinefest.com/
already have incredible thoughts and

observations, zines are another way for them
Contact information:
to be the researchers and the makers.
Cosima Storz

[email protected]
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Online Resources What is a zine?
Zines started in the 1920s in the United
Barnard Zine Library
States in response to science fiction magazines.
https://zines.barnard.edu/about/genres
Fans were invited to submit letters to the

magazines in response to the stories published.
Cult of Pedagogy
Eventually fans started to write their own ideas
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/culturally-
responsive-misconceptions/ and inspirations from magazines and mail them to
each other. Thus, the birth of the fanzine!
DIY resource for zines & zine culture The word fanzine “...was coined in an October
http://www.stolensharpierevolution.org/ 1940 science fiction fanzine by Russ

Chauvenet and first popularized within science
Make an 8-page zine
fiction fandom, from whom it was adopted by
http://www.wexphotographic.com/blog/tips-and-
others.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanzine).
technique/how-to-make-a-simple-eight-page-zine/

Definitions
Pioneers Press
https://pioneerspress.com/ Chapbook-a small paperback booklet, typically
containing poems or fiction.
POC (People of Color) Zine Project
(https://issuu.com/poczineproject) Distro- zine distributor, like a book publisher.

Queer zine archive http://archive.qzap.org/index.php
DIY-do it yourself.

Sprout Distro
Long reach stapler- a stapler that staples lengths
https://www.sproutdistro.com/
up to 12 inches.

Teaching with zines
Zine (pronounced ‘zeen’)- short for fanzine. A self-
https://zines.barnard.edu/teachingwithzines
produced, cheaply made publication. Often about
Zines for kids uncommon or underground topics.
http://zinelibraries.info/2016/08/11/zines-for-kids/

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Zines as collective learning Books on zine making
Zines are an excellent format for Syllabus: Notes from an accidental professor ....
collective learning. There are many studies By Lynda Barry
and theories that support group learning. One
The riot grrrl collection .......
of psychologist Vygotsky’s ideas was that
By Lisa Darms, Kathleen Hanna, & Johanna Fateman
learning is not done individually, and that it
happens between people. Zines are a great way Notes from underground: Zines and the politics of
for students to research and create a group alternative culture .............
made zine. By Stephen Duncombe

How to make books: Fold, cut & stitch your way to a
Another example is from educator
one-of-a-kind book ... .
Zaretta Hammond. Hammond researches By Esther K. Smith
culturally responsive learning and its
The guerilla art kit: Everything you need to put your
misconceptions. Hammond says that “...most
message out into the world ..
schools are centered around an individualistic
By Keri Smith
orientation, keep your eyes in your own work.
Pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Whereas DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture
collectivism is, I am because we are. It’s By Amy Spencer
interdependency.”
Whatcha mean, what's a zine? .

By Esther Watson & Mark Todd
Possible themes for zines
-All about me (great to start the year with) Stolen sharpie revolution: A DIY resource for zines and
zine culture ....
-Artist who you should know (students
By Alex Wrekk(cid:1)
research a not well known artist)
-Culture jamming (students collage pictures
A few materials to get started
from movies, musicians, any visual elements
Long reach stapler, staples, scissors, glue, markers
that students find interesting and they react to
or crayons, old magazines, paper, tape, rubber
those typical images)
stamps, ink pads, stickers, a scanner, a
-Art studio techniques (ex. How to make
photocopier or a computer printer.
collagraph print).
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8 page book

Images from: How to make books, by Esther K. Smith Image from: How to make books, by Esther K. Smith
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What are some other items or ideas connected to zines.....

Comics

Book
Art

DIY

Zines

Pen Pal

Chapbooks

Pamphlets

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