DIY Materials

During my time in special collections I was introduced to different types of zines that interested me for many reasons. But what I found most remarkable, physically, was the material that they were built with. Mostly, it was the different types of paper the zines were built on that defined my experience. The zines had differing paper quality and thickness that was immediately observable. Sometimes, paper wasn’t used at all within a zine. For example, I remember seeing an x-ray film used as a cover for a zine. An X-ray film with an image is not easy to come by so it takes some effort to procure such a material. It was wonderful to hold a piece of medical technology used for another purpose than intended.

After seeing, hearing, and touching the different types of paper/material used for zines, I’ve come to appreciate the dedication and sense of artistry these creators have. I’ve never given much consideration to how words and the paper they’re written on blend together to form a meaning or sense of direction.  So, I’ve become aware of, and fascinated by, the potential for the materials used in DIY culture.

The shape of the paper used in certain zines was also very interesting to see. The overall size of the material used created a sense of space and intimacy with the surrounding text, which was another aspect of paper layout that I find compelling. Also, the sound of some the paper was unusual at times. Some writers used material to change the auditory experience by using wax paper, or envelopes, that created an interesting sound. The use of sound even created a sense of softness to the interaction between reader and zine. So, sound added another layer of complexity to the experience of zine creation that I found appealing.