Zines, short for fanzines, are self-published, non-commercial print works that are typically produced in small batches. They originated as a medium for fan communities to express their interests, but have grown to encompass a wide range of subjects, including art, politics, personal narratives, and social issues. Zines are known for their DIY ethos, allowing for varied forms of expression without the need for approval from traditional publishing or academic gateways. This aspect makes them an ideal medium for exploring and disseminating ideas related to consciousness raising, participatory media, and grassroots activism.
Zines have decades long histories in feminist and queer information activism, creative expression, and mobilizing. Zine work emphasizes participatory media principles, empowering makers to become not just consumers of information but creators of content that reflects their perspectives, concerns, and aspirations.
Since Dr. L. Anh Williams and Dr. M. C. Jonet joined NMSU in 2008, they have integrated their zine work into their research, creativity, and teaching within Gender & Sexuality Studies. They retain several copies of the group zines they created with students and community members from that era, before founding SJZ: Social Justice Zine in 2016 and continue to help oversee zine projects and workshops.
Currently, Drs. Williams and Jonet are collaborating with the NMSU Library to establish a Feminist Border Arts Zine Collection and archive.
The Emilia Archive
The Emilia Archive (Project & Collection)
The Emilia Rueda Archive is a dedicated collection that honors the work and memory of visual artist and student Emilia Rueda. Featuring her digital storytelling piece "Hand of Colonialism," an illustrated zine adaptation, Introduction, related materials, and acitvities, the archive helps preserve Emilia’s creative and intellectual legacy. The collection is designed to serve as both a resource and a tribute.
SJZ is a collaboration between undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, and friends of Gender and Sexuality Studies at NMSU, the borderlands region, and beyond.
Images of Zines by Williams, including Cat's Pajamas
The zine, Cat's Pajamas, is a collaboration by Williams and Dr. Kara Kvaran about the cat, Lady Gaga, who Kvaran adopted after her cousin Julie was deprived of live by Intimate Partner Violence and Domestic Violence. Learn more about Julie, Lady Gaga, and their struggle for justice.
Drawing inspiration from the innovative fusion of zine culture and cinema, as showcased by Zinema, Lilyellowtags, and others, in 2023 and 2024, Drs. M. Catherine Jonet and L. Anh Williams of Feminist Border Arts (FBA) started to explore this concept further for themselves. Our aim is to approach video zines or “zinema” as a digital modality and a form of creative expression, enriching FBA's commitment to merging artistic innovation with knowledge production, digital learning, and social transformation. This exploration represents a new chapter in our work, where this emerging intersection of media arts and cultural studies opens up exciting possibilities for storytelling, activism, and community engagement.
Zine Scene at the 19th annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium 2024
Explore the power of personal narrative with our My Voice, My Power zine-making activity. This interactive project invites you to create azine that expresses your connection to queer and feminist movements, blending personal reflection and research with creative expression to engage learning and open dialogue to inspire change.
While recognized for conceiving innovative zine and comics projects, L. A. Williams's involvement extends far beyond the conceptual stage. Learn more about the roles she plays in bringing these projects to fruition. Click to read about the FBA Zine Art Press, where zines and book arts inform one another.
Zine Collections & Mobile Library
UnoFotoArt Zine Collection
Variety of zines donated by alumna Lisa Y. Méndez (Uno Foto Mobile Zine Library)
FBA maintains a zine collection featuring a range of zine titles connected to gender and sexual identities, social justice, and other related topics. NMSU G&SS alumna and zinester, Lisa Y. Méndez donated over 40 zines to the collection in February 2022 on behalf of her Uno Foto Mobile Zine Library. Thank you, Lisa! To learn more about @unofotoart - check out her blog
Currently, our zine collection is not publicly available. We are archiving and organizing for future NSMU Main Campus use.
