Yes, I am SERIOUSLY thinking about doing the photocopied fanzines again. Screw the internet trolls (you know who you are and the fact that you and your mates are STILL fixated on me after more than twenty years must mean you have a low IQ and no work).
Opinions?
Thanks to Gail Carter for pointing me in the direction of this item: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/internet-trolls-spark-zine-resurgence/7138636
Photo:
Zine resurgence ... Thomas Blatchford says some people have been scared away from online publishing. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While
the internet has democratised publishing, allowing anyone to
potentially reach a global audience with the click of a button,
vitriolic internet comments are pushing some writers back to a medium
last popular in the 1990s.
Zines, or fanzines, are self-published, handmade magazines usually produced in short runs on photocopiers or home printers.
Thomas Blatchford volunteers at Melbourne zine store Sticky Institute, which is preparing for its annual Festival of the Photocopier later this month.
He said zines had "definitely become much more popular recently" with a surge of interest in the festival's Zine Fair — a one-day zine market held at the Melbourne Town Hall.
"We've had a lot more people apply for spaces so it seems to have ballooned, particularly in the last year," he said.
He said this year's zine fair would be the festival's biggest "by quite a long way", with more than 150 stalls.
Photo:
Sticky Institute provides resources for zine makers including typewriters, staplers and a photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While unsure of the exact reason for the resurgence of zines, Mr Blatchford said it was more than just a "weird nostalgia thing".
He said some zine-makers had been scared away from online publishing because of unkind comments from people on the internet.
"There's some horrible people on there," he said.
"People like to know that when they're sharing something, there are often going to be like-minded people reading."
While someone reading a zine may not share the author's point of view, he said, "they won't start berating them in the way that sometimes can happen on internet comments sections".
"One of the things about publishing, particularly very personal content, is that people feel a sense of trust within the zine community," Mr Blatchford said.
"They're sharing things with people who will be more sympathetic than they would be if you just put it on a blog."
Photo:
Thomas Blatchford (right) helps zine producer Morris Anthony Nguyen with Sticky Institute's photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While the Free Dictionary defines a zine as an "inexpensively produced, self-published, underground publication", the Sticky Institute is literally underground, operating out of a small shop in Flinders Street Station's Degraves Street underpass.
Mr Blatchford said the volunteer-run space, which this year celebrates 15 years in operation, was more than just a shop.
"It's a space where people who make zines are welcome to sit and use our facilities — photocopier, staplers etc," Mr Blatchford said .
Sticky Institute volunteer Bianca Martin said helping at the space gave her the opportunity to meet other zine-makers.
Photo:
Bianca Martin volunteers at Sticky Institute and produces a zine about women in the entertainment industry, (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
Ms Martin produces a zine called Fangirl, which celebrates women in the entertainment industry, and said she enjoyed the physical process of making a zine.
"I really like scrapbooking and cutting and pasting," she said.
She will be holding a stall at the zine fair with her band The Girl Fridas, who have produced a zine about being women in the music industry.
"For some reason people just don't want to book female bands," she said.
The Festival of the Photocopier starts on February 11 and culminates with the Zine Fair on February 14.
Opinions?
Thanks to Gail Carter for pointing me in the direction of this item: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/internet-trolls-spark-zine-resurgence/7138636
Sticky Institute: Internet trolls sparks resurgence of zines ahead of Festival of the Photocopier
Updated
Photo:
Zine resurgence ... Thomas Blatchford says some people have been scared away from online publishing. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
Photocopied zines are making a comeback, with some young self-publishers keen to escape the attention of online trolls.
Zines, or fanzines, are self-published, handmade magazines usually produced in short runs on photocopiers or home printers.
Thomas Blatchford volunteers at Melbourne zine store Sticky Institute, which is preparing for its annual Festival of the Photocopier later this month.
He said zines had "definitely become much more popular recently" with a surge of interest in the festival's Zine Fair — a one-day zine market held at the Melbourne Town Hall.
"We've had a lot more people apply for spaces so it seems to have ballooned, particularly in the last year," he said.
He said this year's zine fair would be the festival's biggest "by quite a long way", with more than 150 stalls.
Internet has 'horrible people'
Photo:
Sticky Institute provides resources for zine makers including typewriters, staplers and a photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)While unsure of the exact reason for the resurgence of zines, Mr Blatchford said it was more than just a "weird nostalgia thing".
He said some zine-makers had been scared away from online publishing because of unkind comments from people on the internet.
"There's some horrible people on there," he said.
"People like to know that when they're sharing something, there are often going to be like-minded people reading."
While someone reading a zine may not share the author's point of view, he said, "they won't start berating them in the way that sometimes can happen on internet comments sections".
"One of the things about publishing, particularly very personal content, is that people feel a sense of trust within the zine community," Mr Blatchford said.
"They're sharing things with people who will be more sympathetic than they would be if you just put it on a blog."
Underground space connecting underground publishers
Photo:
Thomas Blatchford (right) helps zine producer Morris Anthony Nguyen with Sticky Institute's photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)While the Free Dictionary defines a zine as an "inexpensively produced, self-published, underground publication", the Sticky Institute is literally underground, operating out of a small shop in Flinders Street Station's Degraves Street underpass.
Mr Blatchford said the volunteer-run space, which this year celebrates 15 years in operation, was more than just a shop.
"It's a space where people who make zines are welcome to sit and use our facilities — photocopier, staplers etc," Mr Blatchford said .
Sticky Institute volunteer Bianca Martin said helping at the space gave her the opportunity to meet other zine-makers.
Photo:
Bianca Martin volunteers at Sticky Institute and produces a zine about women in the entertainment industry, (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)Ms Martin produces a zine called Fangirl, which celebrates women in the entertainment industry, and said she enjoyed the physical process of making a zine.
"I really like scrapbooking and cutting and pasting," she said.
She will be holding a stall at the zine fair with her band The Girl Fridas, who have produced a zine about being women in the music industry.
"For some reason people just don't want to book female bands," she said.
The Festival of the Photocopier starts on February 11 and culminates with the Zine Fair on February 14.
Wow. Hell really froze over if internet rolls are finally good for something.
ReplyDeleteYay ! Good old photocopied zines !!! It all has a nice and comfortable, cosy feel to it.
ReplyDelete