Zines ("zeens") are handmade magazines--one or several sheets of paper, folded and/or stapled together. You can write, type, fold, and staple one yourself and send it to a distro (distributor) or bring it to a zinefest. You can write about yourself (a perzine), your favorite fandom (a fanzine), or tell stories, share how-tos, or make art!

Zines are by nature outside mainstream magazines and publishing houses, and communities who have been excluded from the mainstream (or who opted out--like punk rockers in the 70s) have embraced zines. Zines have their roots in little magazines created by Black artists and writers in the Harlem Renaissance and the amateur press, and some of the first zines were created by sci-fi fans and queer folks. They were embraced by members of the punk movement in the 70s and became a vehicle for the riot grrrls to share their message and find fans in the 90s.

Tune in as we trace the history of zines in the US from amateur press to the present day.

Find thorough show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/5n954b6v

Do you have a zine to share with us? Or a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Please email us at handmadehistorypodcast@gmail.com, or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com.

Happy listening!