LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – With the prominence of social media and the internet, print media may be a relic of the past for some, but for artists and marginalized communities it’s an opportunity to have their voice heard with the help of zines. 

A zine, pronounced as “ZEEN,” is short for magazine or fanzine and is an independently, pamphlet-like work and usually can feature text, images, artwork, found objects or any other creative work that helps express the author’s message, as defined by Purdue University Library.  

According to the Cornell University Library, zines have been around for centuries. Some define Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in the 1500s as a form of zine.

Zines began to trend later in the United States in the 20th Century, when fans of sci-fiction circulated stories in the 1930, and continued in the 1970s when ideas of non-conformity were exchanged among punk bands and culture. 

Through the decades topics of zines shifted, but the purpose of the zine remained the same, providing the creator the opportunity to share anything they could imagine such as personal stories, music, listicles, political ideologies, philosophies, comics, art and so much more. 

For local Acadiana zines, like Deanz Zines, the creator, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed how it not only gave them the opportunity to share their artwork but for his fellow artists as well. 

“For me it’s kind of a voice for the local creators that feel passed on.” Deanz Zines’ creator said. “The ultimate goal is kind of just to find the representation of local artists who literally pour everything they have into their creations. And I try my best to piece together everything as a writer to give everything they deserve.”

Zines provide a voice for marginalized communities where they can exchange ideas among themselves and inform those who may not have been familiar with the issues raised. 

An example of this would be another local zine, Queer Coullions, an LGBTQ+ zine that focuses on queer people who grew up and live in Cajun culture, and whose creator also wished to remain anonymous. 

“The main reason I started it so queer Cajun people can be like ‘that’s me I’m queer and Cajun,’ even if they never thought about what that means and how those two things tie into each other,” the creator of Queer Coullions said. “I think making people think about that intersection and bringing that to the forefront of their minds is really special. It’s good to remind people that queer people have always existed in Cajun country and we’re not going anywhere and we have a unique and important perspective that doesn’t get talked about enough.” 

Zines are usually a free, independently published work funded by the creators themselves and are distributed in small batches that can run from 20-200 copies. Unlike larger print media, the purpose is the passion of sharing and exchanging ideas, not seeking a profit. 

The creator of Deanz Zines shared how they gain no money from their effort and believe art should be accessible and reading should continue to be encouraged.

“There’s no funding, I believe art should be free,” they said. “The goal is to get (their work) in everyone’s hand for free. And you can’t say no to ‘free.’ We got to encourage people to read again, it’s a dying tradition. We don’t read these days, we’d rather watch or listen.”

The creator of Queer Couillons expressed how in the early days of their zine they handcrafted each copy of their issue with hand-drawn images, paper and glue before moving on to print. They said the independent publishing continues to be self-funded. 

“I typically print around 50 copies, give or take depending on where and when I plan on distributing them.” they said. “And yes, all materials needed to produce and distribute come out from my own pocket.” 

With the prevalence of the internet and social media, some might question the purpose of creating physical print media. Queer Couillons’s creator expressed how releasing and gaining information from the internet can be overwhelming at times and feel like “shouting into the void” rather than having the opportunity to seek community in person. 

“Whenever you relate to something you see on the internet, it’s a little bit more abstract.” they said. “But to receive randomly for free, usually from me; I’m a stranger to a lot of people who get zines from me. To receive a zine that you find relatable and reflects things you’ve been feeling as a queer Cajun person, it makes you feel more seen, and that somebody took the time and energy to convey this and put it into words and put it into a thoughtful, beautiful format.”

Another benefit of zines is that the creators sometimes distribute the zine in the streets themselves, which leads to people meeting others with like-minded ideas. 

Deanz Zines’ creators said with small publications like zines there are different kinds of attention people can gain when being featured and are worthy to be shared among their peers in the community. 

“I just want people to know that someone cares enough to take their literature, to take their words and change it and to give them this beautiful story, and not necessarily give the power or acknowledgment but to give them everything they deserve.” they said. 

When asked about who could become a zine creator both publications said that it could be anyone and advised those interested to be brave, to pursue creativity that you are willing to convey to the world. 

“Keep creating. We are diverse individuals.” Deanz Zines’ creator said. “We have very great things to give to the world. We all have something to give and if you’re gonna give you need to give 100%. Don’t short-sell yourself, don’t overthink things. Hit the ground running and know that all art is beautiful.’’ 

If you are interested in getting your own copy of an upcoming issue check local businesses in Downtown Lafayette or participate in Lafayette Art Walks where you might be able to meet the creators themselves handing out zines on the streets. 

If you want to learn more about Deanz Zines or Queer Couillons be sure to follow them on their Instagram page for their latest updates. 

“There is diversity everywhere, the human condition is to have so many different perspectives.” Queer Couillons’ creator said. “Nobody has the same perspective and there are so many of us here, so many of us who are excited to meet with each other, excited to connect with each other.”

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