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International Zine Month

Bringing Back Independent Journalism

Written by Hana Abdel Magid

In an increasingly digital world, print media has become a lost art, but there is a significant and growing movement to revive print culture through independent publishing. Alex Wrekk, the founder of International Zine Month, refers to this as the “Stolen Sharpie Revolution.”

What is the “Stolen Sharpie Revolution”?
The name comes from Wrekk’s 2002 resource guide to all things zine. In short, it’s a DIY movement that advocates for accessible, non-commercialized print-works. Because they are not a form of “mainstream” media, they promote creativity and can offer a platform to otherwise underrepresented voices. It’s fringe reputation led it to becoming a popular medium for documenting subcultures particularly in the 70s-90s. Traditionally, they cover topics relating to politics, culture, and personal interest, but they can really be about anything!

How is a Zine Made?

Zines can be made any number of ways, usually involving some combination of image and text. They are typically created using a master copy that is reproduced using a printer. In fact, you can create a zine with as little as a single sheet of paper. If you’re interested in creating your own, check out Malaika’s handy tutorial from last year’s zine:

Florida Zine Culture
Florida has a rich zine community, particularly in Miami, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Tallahassee. Many cities host festivals throughout the year where zine makers can share and trade their work with each other and the public.

Florida also serves as inspiration for many of these zines. The Islandia Journal is a quarterly publication focused on folklore and ecology in Florida and the Caribbean. Many libraries, such as the Jacksonville Public Library, also offer zine collections which highlight local creators.

AAF Zines

This year, AAF has created two zines which you are welcome to print out and use: