‘Zines: A Quick But Comprehensive Chronology By Granny Anarchy
or niche) community. 'Zines are generally photocopied and do not have barcodes or ISBNS/ISSNs. The first self-made, selfpublished material, and therefore the beginning of 'zine history, was Martin Luther's "95 Theses," posted to protest papal indulgences on October 31, 1517.
A variety of punk ‘zines. Image from Wikipedia.
‘Zines are deeply entwined with punk culture, but didn't originate within it. They have a deep and rich history in politics, literature, and the arts. There is no true agreed-upon definition, but generally, a 'zine - short for "fanzine" or "fan magazine" - is a self-published work with a small print run. A 'zine is not created for profit, but to share creativity, experience, and knowledge with a (usually marginalized
Next in the 'zine timeline are the American Revolution’s broadsides and pamphlets. Thomas Paine's "Common SenSe," which challenged the status quo and spouted subversive ideas that would not have been covered by mass media, is arguably the first American 'zine. Other early publications that could fall under the definition of 'zine include Ben Franklin's self-published works; "The Dial" (Ralph Waldo Emerson was a force behind this project and the artistic