May

Inspired by the fanzine culture: Workshop on academic self-publishing

15 May 2025 11:00 to 15:30 | Workshop

Illustration of a book, pen, hands and notes.

Welcome to a workshop on academic self-publishing, inspired by the fanzine culture.

We will explore how we, as academics and university employees, can find alternative ways to write and share knowledge in more playful, simple, and self-organized forms.

Inspired by the fanzine culture, several small zine libraries will be set up at various academic institutions across Sweden, creating an exchange of the "undergrowth" of thinking — spontaneous ideas, anonymous exercises, statements, and cut-ups — shared between different academic environments.

In this first workshop, we will hear a brief introduction to the history of (fan)zines, look at examples, and try making a simple zine ourselves. (We will follow up during the autumn with more work, publishing, and a release party!)

All participants should bring a text they are willing to share — it could be an essay, a thought, an email conversation. The only important thing is that the text is something you are willing to give away; the materials we bring to this first workshop will be collective.

Throughout the autumn, we will continue the collaboration, organize small zine releases, and manage the distribution of zines between universities and faculties.