Working on my Zine

Zine according to Wikipedia:

A zine (an abbreviation of the word fanzine, or magazine; pronounced [ziːn], "zeen") is most commonly a small circulation, non-commercial publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier on a variety of colored paper stock.

I've wanted to do a zine since I began taking photos in October of 2008. If you think about it, I started working on my zine when I began taking photos, so it's already been a 4 month process.

The trouble with zines is making them unique and interesting. I've seen a number of very intriguing zines through browsing the net, seems like there's an unlimited supply of good work out there. Vice magazine is sort of obsessed with zines...

Check out some zines via Viceland.com

So how do you make a zine interesting is my question? Well the zines I've come across seem to be very "edgy" or boarderline offensive in a lot of ways (Skins and Punks, Vandal Squad, Niche Homo, Sex Beat, etc.). In away, it seems like you HAVE TO offend a few people to make your zine worth reading. A lot of it also has to do with the layout and format as well though. Some zines only have photos in them, others only words I suppose, and of course many combine the two mediums but the actual physical layout and the way the zine is produced is VERY important when it comes to zines-after all that's what seperates zines from magaZINES.


Since I'm not a punk, or skin head, homosexual or closet nerd, I guess my zine is going to have to focus on my own personal experiences with in the last 6 months. Not going to college, the jobs I've had, the problems I've run into, being broke, being down and out, being up, etc, etc, etc.

With that said, if anyone has an suggestions, shoot me an email, thepopularguru@yahoo.com

check out my photos @ www.flickr.com/thepopguru to see some of my work to date.

The Popular Guru