DIY

Zines Are Back!

PRINT-ZINE REVIVAL?

HAVE DIY and analog returned? Why not! Grass roots Do-It-Yourself art has always been the best answer to the monopolistic-conglomerate domination of our culture– among the worst offenders in that regard being publishing’s Big Five.

Authentic culture is organic. Always has been. We’ve had a glimpse of this recently via the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” whose focus was the folk music revival of the 1960’s. One of the roots music pioneers depicted was Woody Guthrie.

Roots literature has had its own pioneers, among them the writer-chronicler known as Wred Fright, a key voice and thinker during the zine heyday of the 1990’s and 2000’s.

The latest news: Wred has produced his first zine in years! The start of a zine revival? We hope!

Information on easily obtaining the zine, Frighty #1, is available right here.

Iggy Gorgess

I JUST WANTED to post a quick note about this novel I’m reading about a punk who moves to Manhattan– into a tiny apartment with furniture painted black– and his various ensuing adventures. It was written by New Pop Lit Advisory Board member Chrissi Sepe, and this may be one of the few remaining copies. Apparently Chrissi wrote it in her twenties– it has the strengths and weaknesses of early work which from the perspective of now is mostly strengths, as it’s readable and exudes authentic reality, the vibe of an exciting city.

I’m on Chapter Three, in which young Iggy, the main character, is being pursued through town by an older woman with short blonde hair and in a fake fur leopard coat. What happens next? We’ll see!

-KW