The Art of the Zine
Zines, short for fan-zines or magazines, are an important art form that allows people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to self-publish and distribute their own collections of writing and art. They have been a powerful form of self expression for many groups that have struggled to make their voices heard in other ways. Pronounced “zeens,” they have been published on almost every topic imaginable, from scientific concepts to poetry, from art to advocacy. If you are passionate about a topic, you can write and create your own zine, then publish and distribute it to everyone you know!
Step 1: Fold and Cut
Fold along the lines shown on the paper provided. You can easily do this by folding your paper in half both directions. Open the paper up, and fold each of the short sides into the centerfold. Open flat again. Now that you have all the folds, fold in half with the short ends touching and tear along the center line starting from the fold and ending at the next folded line. See included directions for diagram.
Step 2: Fold the Zine
Fold your paper in half with the long sides touching. Open the center cut so that each side is able to fold out into a “v” and then compress until you have something that looks like a plus sign. See included directions for diagram. Fold all the sides together to create a book. Now you have a blank zine.
Step 3: Design and Write
Fill the pages with drawings and words. If you need a place to start, try using the theme of love. Find a quote or a song lyric about love and write the words throughout your zine to give you some inspiration. You may even want to write your own poem. Then add some drawings and doodles to fill the pages. When you're all finished with your zine, think about making copies to distribute. You can unfold your zine flat and make as many copies as you like. Then cut, fold, and pass them around.
Things to Think About:
Have you ever found someone else that shares your passion for something? How does it feel to connect with others who share your interests?
What is a topic you're passionate about that might make a great zine to share with others?