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The Perzine Is Political: Critical Thinking with Casual Texts

This is the detailed syllabus for Jenna Freedman's Pre-College Program class at Barnard College, held in the summer of 2023.

Zine Elements

photo of a cat on a table with bookbinding suppliesCovers

  • color
  • construction
  • relief prints

Binding

staples * sewing * stab * pamphlet * paper types* materials

Graphics

  • illustrations
  • fair use/copyright
  • photographs
  • typography/handwriting
  • backgrounds

Elements

Essay * Poem * Review * Drawing * Collage * Personality Quiz * Crossword Puzzle * Playlist * Top Ten List * Likes/Dislikes * How To * Comic * Rant * Blank Space * Art * Handwriting * Typewriting * Design Software * Stick Figures

Metadata: author, title, publication location, publication date, freedoms and restrictions

Genre

  • personal
  • political
  • art
  • literary
  • split
  • compilation
  • minicomics
  • DIY

Pro Tips

  • Leave a 1/4" margin around your pages
  • Remember your zine will be copied or scanned, so light text and images may not reproduce well
  • You do you