Behind the Zines: Self-Publishing Culture - Brossura

Brossura

ISBN 10: 3899553365 ISBN 13: 9783899553369

Casa editrice: Die Gestalten Verlag, 2011

Riassunto

Social networks are dominating today s headlines, but they are not the only platforms that are radically changing the way we communicate. Creatives such as designers, photographers, artists, researchers, and poets are disseminating information about themselves and their favorite subjects not via predefined media such as Twitter or blogs, but through printed or other self-published projects so-called zines. Those who publish zines are mostly interested in sole authorship, namely that all components including text, images, layout, typography, production, and distribution are firmly in the hands of one person or a small group. At their best, the results convey a compelling and consistent atmosphere and push against the established creative grain in just the right way. They provoke with surprising and non-linear food for thought. In short, zines are advancing the evolution of today s media. With a cutting-edge selection of international examples, Behind the Zines introduces the broad range of zines that exists today. These include zines that function as a new kind of project-oriented portfolio to showcase a self-profile or document an exhibit. While some act as (pseudo) scientific treatises to call the reader s attention to a specific topic, others serve as playrooms for creatives to run riot and express themselves and communicate with each other in a space that is free from editorial restrictions. The book examines the key factors that distinguish various zines. It introduces projects in which the printing process significantly influences aesthetics or in which limited distribution to a small, clearly defined target audience becomes part of the overall concept. Behind the Zines not only documents outstanding work, but also shows how the self-image of those who make zines impacts the scene as a whole. Through interviews with people involved in zine production and distribution, the book sheds light on various strategies for this evolving media form.

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Recensione:

When new book Behind the Zines: Self Publishing Culture arrived in the Design Week mail box in all its curling, canvas glory; we got rather excited. This is it! , screamed the inner 17-year-old, this is your time to shine! Now, after all this time, you can be Kathleen Hanna, we thought, with this easy to read guidebook to riot grrrl cred. Another Bikini Kill, carefully tailored for angry, 21st century grrrrlz is just what the world needs. Full of misplaced excitement and ambition, once the book is opened it s easy to see that no, not just anyone can produce a zine worth reading. There s a lot more to these carefully constructed pages than the simple cut-and-paste, photocopy-and-fury components than we d initially thought. The pages of this hefty tome are brimming with the most exciting zines there are right now from around the world; combining style, substance, strangeness and, obviously, sex. It s so incredibly refreshing (particularly for this Luddite) to see a format in which self-expression isn t limited to a defined number of characters being celebrated. Zines are - and hopefully, will continue to be - a format defined by free expression, a DIY ethos and a fierce independence, as aptly and beautifully demonstrated in this book. Among our favourites displayed in the book are Nieves, edited and published by Benjamin Sommerhalder; which sees Swiss illustration mixed with work from Kim Gordon (yeah, the one out of Sonic Youth), David Shrigley, Ed Templeton and Daniel Johnston. We also love Stephanie Homa s Cakezine, which is angrier and more rough and ready in appearance; as well as Dirk Konig s Geozid, if (partially) for the Iggy Pop quote and picture of large breasts. Muff Magazine, from Ramon Coronado touches on subjects including mullets, David Bowie s hair, and the male predicament of whether or not to shave body hair. Watch out for a forthcoming DW poll on that topic. The book succeeds in not only providing a portfolio-like platform of current zines, but also providing a documentation of how zine creators impact on creative thinking more widely than their often bizarre pages. --Design Week Blog

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Die Gestalten Verlag
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• ISBN 10: 3899553365
• ISBN 13: 9783899553369
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 240
• Redattore: Klanten Robert, Mollard Adeline, Hubner Matthias