Zines, Lets get started!--------Research 1

So we've been given a new brief, to create a zine based on the idea of community (we had a research brief over Xmas to look into a specified community, mine was video gamers). I guess i should start by explaining what a Zine is......in its basic form, its a fan made mini magazine on a specific topic, usually between 16-32 pages. Its not usually politically correct or unbiased its about the writer getting his views across more than trying to win the reader over and sell copies. 

The zine has huge origins within the original punk scene and are often very low budget, due to financial restrictions the original zines were cut out images and hand written type, mass printed from a black and white copier, this black and white print method became more of a trademark of zines than a necessity.

Sniffin' Glue was one of the first Zines to be created, in July 1976. Punk music was not widely accepted across television and publication in its early days so Sniffin' glue, even though it only ran for a year, is one of the best sources for early photography and information on the music scene, readership reached over 15,000 at its peak.




 Now the design of the thing is pure DIY, no former knowledge of layouts or anything involved, its purely about getting the point across, this rag-tag style is quite attractive, it adds a lot of character to the publication, making it very personal. I don't really like the style but it fits the subject that's being written about perfectly, it seems that almost by mistake they has been some un-known thought put into the design of it.


Next time on Zine Research-Mike Perry's Graphic Zine