Your Angst-Ridden Youth is Now in a Library

Khrista Rypl

Studio 360 | Nov 4, 2015

Zines have been one of the hallmarks of DIY, alternative culture since the 1970s — although they really started to catch on with the rise of riot grrrl zines in the '90s. Which is apparently long enough ago that some libraries are starting to archive them as part of their collections. (This is where you start feeling old.) I discovered Barnard College's excellent list of zine archives around the country, which lead me to the Queer Zine Archive Project.

QZAP has been cataloguing and digitizing queer zines for those interested in the history of DIY publishing and the underground queer community since 2003. Issues range from the early '90s through the present day, with examples that range from personal diaries to queer fanzines and sex-positive consent-based illustrated porn. I'm including a few examples of their collection below, but I highly encourage you to check it out yourself (you can even search by location, which is very cool).

Kill Rock Stars

Unlike most of the other zines, this document is part indie-pride essay, part catalogue. It was written by one of the founders of the record label of the same name, and opens with the history of the label. KRS played a pivotal role in the Olympia, Washington music scene starting in the early '90s; this zine started in the winter of 1995.

The cover of Kill Rock Stars

(Kill Rock Stars)

The first page of the KRS zine starts with a history of the label and an informal manifesto about its mission (you can continue reading here)

(Kill Rock Stars)

The Riot Girrrl band Bikini Kill was one of the early bands signed to KRS

(Kill Rock Stars)

Cowgirl Ink

QZAP describes Cowgrrrl Ink as “a hotbed of feminist and lesbian activism coalescing around a group called The Cowgrrrls." The first issue is a call to action and includes an alternative Pledge of Allegiance, a speculum primer (you read that correctly), and some (sadly) still-timely words about fighting for equal wages.

The cover of issue 1 of Cowgrrrl Ink

(Cowgrrrl Ink)

From Cowgrrrl Ink issue 1

(Cowgrrrl Ink)

Psycho #1 Fan

A zine about obsession. The writing is charming, and offers this second-person description of a truly psycho fan:

You find your way into the lives of real actual STARS! Sitting on the side lines just ain't enough for you! And why should it be?! Maybe your entire wall is filled with pin-ups of just one star! Your all time favorite celebrity! Maybe you've gotten yourself into trouble with your infatuations. People are worried, baby. But you should give 'em something to REALLY worry about! Tonight — your star will be yours!

Psycho #1 Fan also ran charmingly earnest interviews with real musicians. Some questions: "What is the best rumor you've heard about yourself?" and "What were the best insults called out at you throughout your life?" Great conversation starters that will never get old.