Ellipsis #2
Sarah-Beth, Coventry – kittenesqueATgmailDOTcom
This is such a beautiful little zine! Sarah-Beth’s second perzine explores topics
including feeling overwhelmed by all the things she’s yet to learn (like how
mortgages work) and feeling unsure as to whether she can discuss something if
she doesn’t know much about it, a scathing review of the 50 Shades trilogy that
clearly highlights the problematic nature of the story, lists of what she’s
been up to recently and what she’s enjoyed recently, thoughts on fitness and
body image, her feelings about Gala Darling, and girl-hate. The layouts are gorgeous and carefully
thought-out, with printed text (in a nice arial narrow font), stamped headings
and the odd handwritten line here and there.
The cover sheet is very clever
too – purple paper printed with purple ink.
‘Ellipsis’ is one of my favourite UK perzine series – highly recommended!
And All The Rest
Is Talk #1: Lungs And Lips Locked
Lindsey, UK -
thesmingitAThotmail.com
In this 14-page half-sized perzine, Lindsey writes about how
everyone is a little bit creative, her thoughts on war (“war means someone has
to die”), her experiences of her own femininity and cross-dressing, and her
new-found love for zines. We also read a
review of female-fronted punk band Drag, and a nice piece of prose titled ‘To
See the World in a Grain of Toast’. Mostly
handwritten, with some magazine clippings and hand drawings alongside the text.
Feels very personal and hand-made, like
the pages have been taken out of someone’s journal.
Mythologising Me
#5
Ingrid, Oxford – mythologisingmeATgmailDOTcom
Ingrid describes the fifth issue of her perzine as being
more honest than previous issues, exploring her feelings on some difficult and
personal topics. The longest written
piece focuses on her career plans, frustrations at not being able to afford
postgraduate study, and thoughts about why one’s job seems so integral to one’s
identity (why do so many people ask “so what is it that you DO?”, as if your
job is all you ‘do’?). There are also lots
of shorter pieces throughout, on topics including diary-writing, feeling
nervous about standing up for what she believes in when others disagree with
her, the internet and how everything has become intangible (ebooks, blogs,
etc), feeling down and starting CBT, and making a bigger effort to stick to her
vegan diet. There’s a theme of
self-improvement and looking forward that comes out in her writing, and Although
Ingrid writes inside that she thinks this issue isn’t as cheery as previous
issues, I think I would disagree. Mostly
written on her typewriters (I love the cursive typewriter font!), the layouts
are among her best yet, with some hand-drawings and nice cut-and-paste
artwork.
Ok Werner
Jean & Brian McEwan, West Yorkshire - www.jeanmcewan.com
A fanzine made by brother and sister Jean and Brian about
their favourite filmmaker, Werner Herzog, this zine was put together on a
self-appointed week-long “Herzog Holiday” at Jean’s house. Inside we read reasons why they love Herzog’s
work, common themes in his work, lists of their favourite films, their
favourite quotes of his, and more. I
love it when people write enthusiastically about the things they love in zines,
and ‘OK Werner’ is a lovely example of that.
I hadn’t heard of Werner Herzog until reading this zine, but I’m
definitely going to check out some of his stuff when I get the chance. Thanks Jean and Brian!
