EduPublication for 10/21

That's right: your typed + printed PROPOSAL forms are due at the beginning of class next week. You can download and fill out the form (if you haven't already) here: Project Proposal Form!

* If you need an estimate for the BUDGET part of your proposal, get in touch with / check out the online rates and services of SAIC's Service Bureau. Make sure to leave them at least 24 hours to get back to you (preferably more, in case they have questions for you).

* Those who met with Christa this past week will PRESENT your zine pitch to the group for feedback. Those who met with Terri will present the following week.

Questions? E-mail either/both of us sooner than later. See you next week!

EduPublication for 10/1

Hey everybody, here's the plan:

READ:
this week's readings have been changed from what's on the syllabus. Please print and read the following short articles:
* Knight Citizen News Network's "Why Interview?"
* Stu Willis's "How to Approach Strangers... " (note: the main text of this is below the video).

WRITE:
Six key questions to start from next week. Decide what information you'd like to gather from your own on-the-street interviews and how best to do so. You may not use all of your questions in each interview, but it's important to have alternates in case one line of inquiry isn't working out. We will discuss your questions in class on Thursday.

BRING:
* a laptop if possible, for transcription purposes.
* your six questions
* a portable audio recording device - at least one per team. Make SURE you test these out beforehand so that you're comfortable using them in the field next week.

If you're checking out a field recorder or other digital recorder from one of the school media centers, this is especially true. These usually require authorization - so do not wait to get this process underway.

* If you're using something that requires cassettes or minidiscs, make sure you have a blank!

BEGIN:
Your project proposal applications, due first thing on October 21.
You can now download the Project Proposal Form HERE as a type-friendly PDF. Let us know if you run into any difficulties along the way.

As for print numbers, Terri and I discussed the question further and decided that given the public nature of these projects it makes sense to require a minimum of 50 copies of your zine/ public project, taking into account that 16 of these will be going to members of the class for review/critique. We are looking into funding sources to help make this more viable.

Given that, we've added a budget breakdown to the form. Working out a rough estimate of your costs is an important component of most grant applications, and this one's no exception. If we don't get as much funding as we request, this will help us assess which projects are in need of the most assistance to reach their goals. The clearer you are in listing your expenses, the better.

Depending on the scope of your project it's also a good idea for each of you to start seeking support from relevant organizations / groups as well, and this will come in handy there as well.

Health Edupublication for 9/30

Here's what's the what for next week:

WRITE: one or two paragraphs describing your proposed zine concept and formatting idea. If you're trying to decide between a few good options, try to narrow these down to two. We'll do individual meetings to help hone these ideas for your final proposals.

If you're feeling really lost in this area, describe what you identify as your main challenges in developing the zine.

FIND, READ, and PRESENT ON: Two published zines that you feel inform your own approach in some way, either in terms of content, aesthetic, writing style etc. Try to choose two that represent different aspects - for instance, one might have to do with content you're interested in working with, while another might represent a stylistic approach that interests you... or that you'd like to avoid.

If you're not sure where to start, here are some leads:
* visit Quimby's bookstore to browse their selection of small-press materials. You can start with their new "health" section, near the front of the store, but take a look at anything else that jumps out at you. Other places to find and buy zines (though there will be fewer to choose from) include Chicago Comics, Women and Children First, No Coast, Golden Age, and, if you're lucky, your local independent record store or comics shop.

* check out the downloadable/printable zines at online archives like zinelibrary.info, the queer zine archive, and the Small Science Collective. Keep in mind that most of these zines will require navigating the double-sided printing issue we ran into with last week's readings (most printers don't offer the option of double-sided printing). The exception is Small Science Collective, which uses the same small single-sheet format we used for our introductory zines in class.

* talk with friends who may have their own small zine collections, and see what they recommend and/or let you borrow.

* search the zine collections of the Chicago Underground Library, Depaul University Zine Collection, or our own Joan Flasch collection. These libraries do NOT generally allow their materials to circulate (i.e. you can't take the zines out with you) but most zines will have ordering information on them. If you find a zine you like, you can contact Quimby's or check online to see if you can get copies that way.

conflict kitchen

To follow up on our conversation in class this week, here's another recent example of functional packaging-as-zine: the Conflict Kitchen project in Pittsburgh, PA.

From their website:

Conflict Kitchen is a take-out restaurant that only serves cuisine from countries with which the United States government is in conflict.

Conflict Kitchen’s current iteration is an Iranian take-out restaurant, "Kubideh Kitchen", that serves kubideh: spiced meat in freshly-baked barbari bread with onion, mint, and basil.

The sandwich is served in a custom-designed wrapper that includes interviews with Iranians on subjects ranging from Persian poetry to the current political turmoil.

Find out more about the project on their website HERE or support their next iteration, "Bolani Pazi", an Afghan take-out restaurant HERE.

Health Zinesters on Film

Joe Behen, the Director of SAIC's Health Services and one of our esteemed special guests next week, tipped us off to the new film "Crooked Beauty" about artist-activist-zinester Jacks MacNamara. MacNamara is the founder of the Icarus Project, which publishes numerous zines and other resources on mental health issues, including one we're reading for class this week. SAIC will bring the film and its director to the Gene Siskel Theatre this Spring. It looks pretty incredible, I have to say. Check out the trailer for the film, below.

Health Edupublication for 9/23

Hey there, everyone. Next week's class focuses on mental health and related issues (grief, substance abuse, support networks). Here's what we've got:

READ:
* Friends Make the Best Medicine (Icarus Project) Quimby's now has copies of this zine for our class. If you can't make it over there, download and print the zine from their site HERE.

* The Worst (anonymous) - requires double-sided printing + folding

* Prescription for Change (anonymous)

WRITE:
* a written response essay, due, printed at the beginning of our next class.

Response Essay Guidelines: Choose two zines from the week’s readings. In 1-2 typed pages, compare and contrast them focusing on what you find successful and what you might have done differently.

Just a note after today's excellent discussion - we want to make sure you know that we don't expect (or even want) you to try to reach every possible demographic. The idea is to provide you with resources and information about a range of themes and approaches, including some zine needs that are out there. This does not mean that you should make work that speaks to the needs of homeless teens and transgendered people and SAIC students and senior citizens and whatever other group might possibly pick up your publication. Consider that focusing on a particular community or mode of distribution can actually open up unexpected possibilities for creativity and outreach, which we'll talk about more at the beginning of class next week.

Zines on Toast!

So, Alex Wrekk (from Brainscan and Stolen Sharpie Revolution) with about half a dozen UK zinesters are going to be reading, talking, and joking about at Quimby's Bookstore this Saturday at 7 p.m. Just thought you all should know!

EduPublication for 9/16

Hey hey all, what amazing zines and great discussion today. Here's what's up for next week's sex-ed-themed class:

READ:
* Tip of the Iceberg (Laura Szumowski)
* Susann Gage (Temporary Services)
* Vaginal Underground (YWEP)
* Bad Encounter Line Zine (YWEP)
* Grabbing Good Health by the Balls handout (Queer People's Collective)

WRITE:
* your response essay focusing on two or three of the above, as per the guidelines described in the syllabus.

VISIT:
the websites for both
* Young Women's Empowerment Project +
* Chicago Women's Health Center
to get a good understanding of each organization. After perusing, write down three questions to ask our visiting speakers next week.

Due for EduPublication 9/9

Just to recap, here's what we've got on our plates for the next class.

READ:
* "Engaged Pedagogy" by Bell Hooks
* Anne Elizabeth Moore's "How to Be a Zinester" - bring printed version with you to class

CREATE AND PUBLISH x 17 Copies:
* a mini-zine presenting a health condition you're familiar with in a way that surprises your audience. Al of your zines must be printed and folded before class begins on Thursday. We won't have time to fold in class that day!

VISIT:
* Quimby's bookstore at 1854 W. North Avenue (near the Damen Blue Line stop) to buy the three required readings. They should have them behind the front counter for you. The third zine on the list may not arrive until next week, FYI. If you get there before it does, please pick up the first two to start with.

This is also a great chance to browse their selection of other relevant zines of interest, which you'll be reporting on later in the semester. If you're curious about publications on a particular topic, ask the person at the counter if they have recommendations - they can often help navigate what's in stock to find things you might not find otherwise!