last update: 20160807
***************
August 5, 2016
"Grrrl/Queer/Feminist Zines": The 15th lecture
memorandum (some part of lecture contents)
***************
In this lecture, we examined problems regarding "Anarchism/Infoshop".
What I emphasized in particular is (1) the influence of the methodology of anarchist movement on zine culture, (2) the importance of the existence of infoshops in the distribution of zines.
(1) The placeness of occupation of open spaces/streets in the anarchist movement and (2) the placeness of a infoshop in a city have qualities in common. The qualities are autonomous, nonhierarchical, co-operative, unexclusive, and anti-discriminative.
Those spaces are open for the possibility of an encounter with unknown other people. And there are forms of connection/relationship which does not presuppose consumption, capitalism, and ableism there.
Zines function in those places by reflecting those ideas/orders. Therefore zine is the media not only transcending extensity, but also of the extensity. Needless to say, the autonomy of zines themselves/zine culture inherits the autonomy of anarchism.
The real anarchist movement and the creation/distribution of zines are connected directly. We should be conscious of that. Utilizing appropriately zines is important to create more autonomous space and maintain those. Similarly, more real autonomous spaces are necessary condition to raise the legitimacy (correctness) of zine culture.
Conversely, 'zine culture is clearly very activism, not a part of activism' (of course feminism is related there, too. Anarchism and feminism are in the multi-layered/composite relation).
In Japan, at this time, the spaces which are active with identifying themselves as 'infoshop' are only 2. However, there are many cafes and secondhand bookstores having the function that is almost it. It would become the problem how we can utilize such places effectively.
List: [Serial Publication] Notes on Grrrl/Queer/Feminist Zines
cf. https://sites.google.com/site/feministzines2016kobe/
Author: MURAKAMI Kiyoshi
UP: 20160807 REV: