Zines, you’ve heard of them and if you are a part of the creative community or just enjoy reading in general, you’ve probably been exposed to one at some point in your life. Zines are, at their very essence, are independently created and published magazines that tell niche stories for niche audiences. Historically, they have been the platform that the counterculture used to freely share ideas. From the perzines of the 1930s to the underground punk rock zines of the 80s and the feminine manifestos of the 90s, zines have influenced creative culture and society as a whole for decades. They disseminate the voice of people under oppressive rule, they inspire people to take a stand through their art and they have a unique way of building community. This month, we are going to talk about zines and their latest rendition the digital zine and how you can utilize the concept as a form of self expression or promotion for your creative work. Whether you are an artist and illustrator looking to showcase your work, a designer who wants to create a unique portfolio or someone with a bigger creative idea wanting to bring it to life on pages with a team of fellow creatives, this class is for you. I’ve done a lot of creative work over the last 15 – but some of my most memorable experiences were during my time publishing my indie zine: Halfstack Magazine. What started off as a fashion project, launched into a 6 year self directed creative journey showcasing the best of Indie Chicago creatives in fashion, art and music. I did this alongside some of my most creative and inspiring friends that included photographers, artists, writers, graphic designers, stylists, makeup artists fashion specialists and so many more.
