The Power of Zines
Zines save lives...that’s what Justin Hocking tells us. Justin is the executive director of Portland Oregon’s Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC), which provides training, events, and libraries for independently published creations. I’ve taken a tour of the library and work spaces, and just thinking about the letterpresses they have available in there gets me excited about taking back the media and making zines.
So what is this about saving lives? In addition to IPRC’s ten years of enabling publishing, they are now working on a Media Action Program (MAP) teaching teens to critically de-construct media messages. Following is an interview with Justin about the program, the power of zines, and independent publishing’s influence on culture:
1) Let’s start with a little bit about you first: What drew you to independent publishing?
I always wanted to be a writer. Some friends introduced me to zines in college and I was hooked. I collaborated on a bunch of zines and eventually made my own skateboard zine called Landpirate. After studying creative writing in graduate school, I moved to New York City and worked as an editor for a publishing company. I really liked editing, but a big part of my job was reading hundreds of submissions and writing rejection letters. I got tired of that and New York in general, so I jumped at the chance to come back out west to Portland. I love working at the IPRC, where instead of rejecting people’s work, I can show them how to publish it themselves!
2) MAP addresses the deconstruction of media messages by teens. What about zines makes them the chosen style of independent publishing for this outreach program?
I think zines and writing in general require a pretty high level of introspection, thought and creativity. And starting back with Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” self-publications have been successful vectors for critical thinking and even dissent. On a more practical level, zines are fairly simple and can be produced right in a classroom, sometimes in less than two hours, and then students have something tangible to take home and share.
3) You have said “Our ultimate goal is to help young people move from being passive consumers of media to active creators of artwork, writing, zines, and ultimately, the culture they live in.” What role do zines and zine makers play in the expanding presence of participatory media in our society? And what differences or similarities do you see between creation of and participation in media versus consumption?
Zinesters have always been at the forefront of participatory culture. An aesthetic that I believe is central to most zines is the idea that when the media isn’t serving you or the world, it’s time to become the media. And I think that for a lot of young people, the media is actually doing them a disservice, in the way that it glamorizes violence, unattainable standards of beauty and conspicuous consumption. Something we talk about during MAP sessions is the way the constant bombardment of media messages can actually affect your thinking and your behavior. In their zines, students are pretty open about the fact that mainstream media affects their sense of self esteem, the way they define beauty, and the way they define what is means to be a “real” man or woman. So we try to empower them to challenge negative media messages in their zines. By creating a zine, they become the media and actually help re-create culture. You can see it happening just in the culture of the classroom--when people have something creative to work on, there’s a kind of fun, collaborative spirit that lights up the room. That spirit is present every day at the IPRC, and over ten years I really believe we’ve had a positive affect on the overall culture in Portland.
It’s interesting to see how many zinesters are now using internet technology and blogging as a way to cross-pollinate their creative projects. It’s exciting to see truly visionary people like this coming up with forums that encourage actual participation. On the other hand, so much contemporary media--tv shows, movies, certain web content--allows people to sort of “check out.” People have difficult lives and they need to check out sometimes, of course, but the danger is that we become a nation of passive consumers. I personally find the contemporary DIY craft movement really encouraging--so many people are in to creating things (including handmade and incredibly artful zines), rather than just shopping. It gives people a sense of meaning and purpose, and whether or not they’re conscious of it, they’re influencing the larger culture. That’s what the IPRC’s all about.
4) When will the workshops begin and what schools will be participating?
MAP began officially in September of 2007. We held quite a few workshops this past school year, in places like Franklin High School, the Caldera Arts program, Clackamas Community College and Janus Shelter for Youth.
5) Where can readers find more information about this program or contact you?
They can read more on our website, www.iprc.org, or give us a ring at 503.827.0249 and ask for Justin or AnnMarie.