Zines

What makes a zine is the fact that they are small-circulation, self published, and often inexpensive or free short magazines. Arguably the most important aspect of a zine is that the publication and public audience will identify it as one. Many people who produce zines say that the community who reads/views the zine is just as important as the product and that is what separates a zine from other publications like comics, literary journals, websites and other forms of publications.

The first zines can be traced to back to the 1930s when they were made by the Science Correspondence Club in Chicago. It was originally called The Comet and it started a continuous trend of science and science fiction relation zines. One notable science fiction zine started in 1943 and was known as the Fantasy Commentator and ran, not continuously, until 2004. One of the pieces in Fantasy Commentator advanced to become Sam Moskowitz's book on the history of the science fiction fandom called The Immortal Storm. Since the 1930s there has been a clear connection between zines and science fiction. This was ultimately reflected in the World Science Fiction Convention when the Hugo award for Best Fanzine was given out in 1955 and is still awarded today. The range of the zine has widened to include practically anything today. 

The production of zines experienced a great boost during the '70s when technological innovations made it easier to create zines. For example, the rise of copy shops allowed zine-makers to produce their work more effectively because it was faster and cheaper. Before this, zines had to be produced using mimeographs which push ink through a stencil in order to make multiple prints but it took too long for large-scale production. 

During the '70s and into the '80s the main hub of the zine culture shifted from science fiction to the punk scene concentrated in LA and New York. Punk zines had a grungier, more DIY aesthetic that reflected current events or the subjects being covered. Popular punk zines like Sniffin' Glue covered punk bands like The Clash, The Ramones, and Joy Division and even featured interviews with artists such as Lou Reed. 

When the punk started to gain popularity many popular zines shut down. However, in the 1990s, zines began to flourish once again thanks to the "riot grrrl scene". This was an alternative to past male-driven punk revolutions that encouraged women and girls to start their own band or make their own zine, anything to get their voices heard. By 1993, 40,000 zines were being published in the United States with many of them being devoted the "riot grrl" music and politics.

Today, zines have become more diverse than ever. With the rise of the internet, the cost of producing a zine is next to nothing. In addition online zines have become popular, elimination the use of paper as well as providing an easier platform for collaboration on zines. Nonetheless, zines are still sold in person at zine fairs and online through Etsy. 

Throughout history, zines have gone through predominant themes of science fiction, punk music, and the "riot grrrl movement" but there have always been zines on a variety of subjects. Today, artists are exploring the concept of feeling at home, feminism, humor, the environment, animals, and even a zine on zine culture. The possibilities are endless.