The Rise of Zines: How Graphic Design Becomes A Loud Vehicle for Unheard Voices

With only thirteen issues published over the span of two weeks in the early 1970s, the Indian zine Chakravarty was a pivotal piece of work created in the midst of heightened caste discriminations all throughout the Indian subcontinent. Initiated by one of the leaders of the Dalit Panther Movement (heavily inspired by the American Black Panthers) whose radical political views fused with Marxist ideology, the zine was a precious testimony of Dalit’s (the lowest stratum of the caste system) resistance and Indian literature through the works of avant-garde and modernist Little Magazine Movement’s members.

Now carefully archived by a young archivist whose quest is to commemorate Chakravarty’s unique literary legacy, the zine has become a testimony of class struggle and of an Indian prose that was only looking to be heard. Its unique and striking design choices, specifically the recurring sun whose rays of light beaming from its core printed on each front cover included the name of each writer and editor members of the modernist movement, aimed at signifying ideas of equality.

Chakravarty sets itself in a long legacy of political zine born throughout the 70s and highly popular amongst political and leftist groups until the early 2000s when the Internet forced the small printed home-made magazine to an eventual decline. Yet, as the past couple of years saw the resurgence of the late 90s and early 2000s’ aesthetics in design, fashion, interior architecture as well as music, it is unsurprising that such an emblematic part of it would also make its comeback. Easier than ever to produce thanks to facilitated access to printer shops, new technologies and an overall interest for visual arts, has made zines the perfect vehicle for many marginalised voices all around the globe.

Recognisable for their striking and amateur-esque visual identity, zines (short for magazine) have been the pillar of political and radical activities, specifically at the height of punk, although it was already a powerful tool throughout the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Later on, throughout the 1990s, the Riot Grrrl created and self-published a wide range of zines surrounding questions of feminism. Today, zines have taken on a more personal and self-introspective form while remaining an active tool to spread political awareness.

What makes zines so enticing for an increasing amount of people is the idea that a few pieces of paper, a pair of scissors and some glue will be enough to create striking visual works while carrying a personal cause. Their lack of strict definition makes them the perfect vehicle for personal expression with little to no limitations. The use of artisanal techniques, more specifically collage (which use stems from a long heritage of political stances such as feminist collages, European anti-fascist movement and the Russian Revolution), means that anyone can make them from anywhere in the world without having to struggle without the politics of working with a publisher, or looking for rare materials.

Today, as the conflict in Gaza has resumed with greater intensity after seven short days of ceasefire, activists and people all around the world actively work on sharing resources and finding ways to push governments globally to help Palestinians and put an end to the crisis. In the midst of heightened violence, illustrators and artists have found great interest in creating zines. Soofiya, a Brighton-based illustrators, remarkable for their joyful and colourful work, recently released a small toolkit including resources to watch, listen and read, local journalists to follow as well as actions to take on. Shared via a Google Drive link, the zine is available to print and make at home as well as during in-person workshops in Brighton. Reusing the distinctive visual style of zines with unique illustrations and somehow, oversaturated pages, the Free Palestine Zine remains the legacy of a long line of home-made zines that had for core goal to spread political messages and build community through unique graphic design choices whose heritage stems from centuries of political expressionism.