Dedication
This activity is dedicated to Las Cruces, NM educators Monica Kiser from the J. Paul Taylor Academy and Kayla Myers from the New America School, along with their students, for their collaboration with Dr. L. Anh Williams from NMSU Gender & Sexuality Studies and Feminist Border Arts. 234 students from both school participated. The collaboration started with Williams leading zine-making workshops at the schools in January 2024. These educators then developed learning approaches and structured courses of action that guided learners in producing their own individual social justice zines. In three weeks, Williams compiled and laid out hundreds of pages of the contributors' raw materials, then designed and printed ten different zines ranging in length from 54 to 158 pages. The educators, several students, and the group zines were featured in a panel at the 19th annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium, hosted on the campus of New Mexico State University on April 10, 2024. Their collective efforts and creativity have significantly enriched this initiative, demonstrating the power of collaboration, participatory media, and shared learning in pursuing social justice through artistic expression.
Rooted in the rich traditions of queer and feminist movements, zines offer a powerful platform for voices often marginalized in mainstream media and culture. From the riot grrrl movements to the spread of zine fests around the world, zines have enabled people to reclaim their narratives and connect with others on issues that matter. Zines are a medium that serve as powerful tools to express, organize, and resist. Whether you're crafting your very first zine or you're an experienced zine maker, the grassroots power of DIY media means every fold and cut unfolds possibilities.
Activity: Personal Zine Assignment — My Voice, My Power
Objective:
This activity is designed to explore and express your personal connections to queer and feminist movements. Through creating a self-reflective zine, you'll have the opportunity to share your perspectives, experiences, and aspirations, connecting your personal narrative with the larger currents of social change.
How to Participate:
Step 1: Theme Selection
Choose a theme that resonates deeply with you. This could be anything related to your identity, experiences of resistance or empowerment, or a specific social issue that connects to intersectional women's, gender, and LGBTQ+ studies.
General Topics
- What issues are you most passionate about in your community or the world?
- Are there moments in your life where you felt particularly empowered or challenged?
- What stories of resistance or change have touched you deeply?
- Create a zine about a time when you or someone you know stood up against injustice—what was the outcome and what did it change?
- How has art (music, writing, visual arts) empowered you or provided a platform for your voice?
Specific Projects
- A Day in My Life: Document what a typical day looks like for you, highlighting moments that define your personal or social identity.
- Letters to My Past or Future Self: Write letters that capture advice, hopes, or reflections to your younger or/and future self.
- My Role Models: Create profiles or tributes to people who have influenced your journey or perspective.
- A World Imagined: If you could change one aspect of the world to make it better or more inclusive, what would it be? How would it impact people’s lives?
- The Future I Envision: Reflect on your hopes for the future—both personally and for the community or world at large.
Step 2: Content Creation
- Visuals: Gather or create drawings, collages, personal photos, or use mixed media to visually express your theme. Think in terms of shapes, textures, and how they might appear transformed when reproduced.
- Text: Compose short essays, interviews, poetry, or personal narratives that explore your theme.
- Historical Connection: No matter your theme, incorporate at least one historical reference or figure from the queer/feminist movements to connect your personal stories with broader social movements.
Step 3: Layout and Design
Learn and apply basic design principles such as balance, contrast, alignment, and repetition. These principles will help you craft visually compelling pages that draw readers into your world.
Creating a visually appealing zine isn't just about placing text and images together—it's about making your pages come alive for the reader.
Here's a breakdown of some foundational design principles to help you craft a zine that's as engaging to look at as it is to read:
Balance
Balance is about distributing the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space on the page. This creates a feeling of equilibrium which is pleasing to the eye. Here’s how to achieve it:
- Symmetrical Balance: You can mirror the layout on one side of the page with the other—this is simple and creates a formal, organized look.
- Asymmetrical Balance: This involves an unequal but still harmonious distribution of elements, which can make your layout more dynamic and interesting.
Contrast
Contrast helps to highlight key elements of your page by making them stand out. Use contrast to draw attention to important parts of your zine, such as headlines, quotes, visual accents, or critical images.
- Color Contrast: Combine light and dark colors to enhance readability and highlight important sections.
- Size Contrast: Use different sizes for elements to attract attention or emphasize hierarchy (e.g., larger titles and smaller body text).
Alignment
Proper alignment brings an orderly appearance to your zine, ensuring that the reader’s eye flows naturally across the page.
- Edge Alignment: Align text blocks and images either to the left, right, center, or justify them based on your overall design theme.
- Center Alignment: Useful for text like titles or quotes but use sparingly in body text as it can be harder to read.
Repetition
Repetition can strengthen a design by tying together otherwise separate parts. It helps in creating a rhythm and a sense of cohesiveness.
- Repeating Visual Elements: This could be a specific color scheme, shape, or graphic used throughout the zine.
- Consistent Fonts: Stick to a limited number of fonts to maintain a unified look. This one is so important. I have been told to never use more than 3 fonts on one project.
Practical Tips:
- Negative Space: Don’t be afraid to leave empty spaces. White and negative spaces can help prevent your pages from feeling cluttered and allows your content to breathe.
- Typography: Choose legible fonts and consider their impact—serif fonts often convey formality and tradition, while sans-serif fonts are seen as more modern and approachable.
- Grids and Columns: Use a grid system to organize your content into a clean, navigable layout.
Step 4: Production
Create your zine by hand to embrace the full DIY ethos of zine culture, or use digital tools for layout for a contemporary approach.
Embracing the DIY ethos of zine culture involves not just the design and content creation, but also the physical assembly of your zine. Whether you're crafting by hand or using digital tools, this step is where your zine comes to life.
Handmade Production:
Creating your zine by hand is a deeply personal and traditional approach that connects you to the grassroots origins of zine-making. Here’s how to do it:
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Folding Techniques:
- Single-Sheet Zine: Start with a standard sheet of paper and follow a series of folds and a single cut to transform it into an 8-page zine. This method requires no staples or glue and is excellent for short, impactful messages.
- Stapled Booklet: For longer zines, you can create multiple pages by stacking them together and folding them in half. Secure the fold with staples along the spine. This is great for more extensive narratives or collections of work.
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Making Copies:
- Photocopying: Once you've created a master copy of your zine, use a photocopier to produce as many copies as you need. This is cost-effective and allows you to distribute your zine more widely at events, through mail, or in local bookshops or cafes.
- Scanning and Printing: For a slightly higher quality, scan your master copy and print using a home or professional printer. This method also allows you to correct any errors or make adjustments before the final printing.
Digital Production:
For those who prefer a more contemporary approach, digital tools can simplify the layout process and allow for easy editing and reproduction:
- Digital Layout Tools:
- Use design software like Adobe InDesign, Canva, or Scribus to create your zine digitally. These tools offer advanced layout options, typography controls, and the ability to easily integrate high-quality images.
- Digital Distribution:
- PDFs: Convert your zine into a PDF for easy sharing through email, social media, or on websites. This format is accessible and retains the layout and quality across different devices.
- Online Publishing Platforms: Platforms like Issuu or FlipHTML5 allow you to publish your zine in a flippable format, mimicking the physical experience of reading a printed zine.
Practical Tips:
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Test Print: Always do a test print of your zine to check for any layout errors or adjustments needed in the design.
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Sourcing Materials: If making zines by hand, source high-quality yet affordable materials to enhance the tactile quality of your zine. Recycled papers can add an eco-conscious touch.
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Community Workshops: Consider hosting or attending workshops where you can learn new techniques, share resources, and collaborate with others.
Step 5: Reflection
After completing your zine, write a short reflective essay on how the process of creating your zine has helped you understand your role within the continuum of social change movements.
Share Your Work:
We encourage you to share your completed zine with the FBA community! Submit your work to be featured on our website, or bring it to our next event to showcase your creativity and insights. [Submission Guidelines]
Join the Conversation:
Once you've created your zine, join our dedicated forum to discuss your work and the works of others. It’s a space to connect, critique, and celebrate the diverse voices within our community.
