A zine is a tiny booklet, often created in a (very) limited quantity. Some people view it as a democratic form of media that anyone can make and share. Others see it as a miniature work of art. For teachers and students, it’s a way to produce a small-format item that gives a sense of accomplishment.
Some zines are made from a single sheet of paper, folded in a way to create pages. Since all the pages are on the same sheet, understanding the layout of the paper is crucial.
Below is a guide that shows how different areas of the paper become pages in the zine.
An example of a small story about a ball depicted in a Zine with coverpage, pages with the actual story and the back of the Zine.
Zines can be used for every topic you can think of, it could be as shown below a story or more in the line of a non fiction publication. It could be a comic, a collection of poems or a political manifest. Your imagination is the only limit.
Zines can of course be made in different ways, this to say that it does not have to be one single sheet of paper, but can be more pages stapled or sewn together.
A zine, short for “magazine” or “fanzine,” is a small, self-published booklet or magazine typically created by individuals or small groups. Zines cover a wide range of topics, including personal reflections, artwork, poetry, fiction, political commentary, and more. They are often produced using simple printing methods, such as photocopying or even handwritten, and are distributed independently or within niche communities.
The guide on how to make a Zine was made as part of the Create Festival in collaboration with the public library of Svendborg.
I borrowed a travelling Zine library, a collab between Copenhagen Zine festival and Anders Fjølvar, Forlaget Afkom, added zines from private collections, and a lot of string to hang them from a wodden frame in the ceiling.
The guides on how to make a zine, and how to make storyboards was displayed as well as printed for visitors to take home or simply sit down on the workshop tables and give it a try.
I had a blast reading all the zines as well as teaching everybody from very young children to more mature adults how to make their own small comics.