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Week 4: Fanzines and maker culture

Summary

This week we will learn about the history of comics fanzines and prozines and, in small groups, create small fanzines in class.

Weekly Learning Objectives

• define the terms fanzine and prozine and list examples of each from comics and other fandoms.
• explain the origins and history of comic book fanzines and identify some of the major figures and publications.
• create a small, simple fanzine.
• design fanzine-related programming and workshops.

Before class: Readings, resources, and tasks

• O’Brien, E. (2012). Zines: A personal history. New England Review, 33(2), 89–99. Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/484798
• Radway, J. (2020). Zines, half-lives, and afterlives: On the temporalities of social and political change. PMLA, 126, 140–150. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1632/pmla.2011.126.1.140
• Schelly, W. (2003). Fanzine Mania . The golden age of comic fandom (Rev. ed.). Seattle, WA: Hamster Press.

Fanzine production activity

• Prepare for the fanzine production activity:
  • You may use the time in class to brainstorm, plan, organize, and gather materials form the internet for your fanzine.
  • If you want to actually work on making the fanzine in class:
    • If working with a partner, communicate with your partner about fanzine topics, features, and ideas
    • Generate text and gather images for your fanzine
    • Bring any crafting supplies you’d like to work with in class as you make your fanzine with your group. I will bring large sheets of blank paper, markers, crayons, scissors, and a few old comics to cut up, but feel free to bring additional supplies.

In class

• Fanzine production