Zine Publications and Projects
Chronically
Online
When we were initially figuring out the theme for this zine, the summer hype around brat was dying down and internet culture was transitioning to the idea of “brat vs. demure”. As companies and political institutions were jumping on the trend, it made us reflect on how so many media references to underground culture and sound can get swept up into the mainstream.​
We are acutely aware of both the fulfilling and harmful potential of the internet yet it’s something that holds a chokehold on our generation. We created this theme as an ode to this: chronically online represents our desire to explore more what everyone thinks of the internet.​
Whether it’s love, hatred, or something you can’t put into words, we want to know about it all. The incorporation of physical media is also really important to us so designing this zine has been a labor of love. We hope this theme and the submissions spark a hint of nostalgia, fear, happiness— something that hits home.
SHADES
This semester, we wanted to focus on adding work to our website, which is why instead of a zine, we will be compiling submissions to form an anthology. This anthology will be featured on the website and be separated into three distinct sections/categories: light, neutral and dark.
Our inspiration for Shades comes from the unique feeling that the new year provides. It’s time to take on new challenges, move on from the past and finally get to doing things you’ve been talking about for so long. With yet another year amid the pandemic, we wanted artists to reflect on the past two years and look into what the future holds.
We have purposefully kept the theme for this anthology very broad to give you all creative freedom. Our goal is that Shades can be interpreted in any way the artist sees fit. We don’t specify colour because these shades can be any. Light doesn’t have to mean good, and dark doesn't have to mean bad, or it can be interpreted in an entirely metaphorical sense. Take inspiration from the light, dark and neutrality all around you, and make Shades whatever you want it to be!
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We’re accepting submissions for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, visual art, photography, film/video, audio/music, and DIY articles or projects.
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Submission period: February 3rd 2022 - March 26th 2022
OUR VOICES,
OUR STORY
Presented in collaboration with the English Course Union (ECU) at X University
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For this zine, we collaborated with our friends over at the ECU again to celebrate the English Department’s 10th anniversary! Over the course of ten years, this program has come to signify different things to thousands of students, faculty, and staff. As we enter this anniversary year, we ponder the questions: What is our history? What are the stories that have not yet been told? Who are the voices of today, and what do they have to say? What lies in our future ahead? Individuals, groups, classes, clubs, an entire community of artists, writers, and dreamers program-wide and beyond...who are we? And who could we become? We left it to our community to answer these questions for themselves...
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Participating artists were given the chance to view a mini zine of prompts for inspiration. They then wrote their stories and/or created their artwork, based on their own unique interpretations of the mini zine. Following the Performance Café on Oct. 2, 2021, participating students had the opportunity to submit their work to be published in a special edition zine AND showcased in an innovative digital exhibition. You can enjoy these for yourself below!
CAUGHT IN 2K
In our totally epic Fall 2021 zine, CAUGHT IN 2K, we reminisce on the joys and pains of childhood, teenagehood, and/or adulthood in the 2000s, and reflect on our shared yet infinitely unique roots. Featuring works of creative writing, poetry, visual arts and crafts, photography, film, music, and more, CAUGHT IN 2K promises to be almost as iconic as the early 2000s and its mind-blowing music scene, wacky yet iconic fashion statements, and blossoming digital technology!
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For a more immersive experience, this zine is structured into the "rooms" of a classic 2000s house party. You can check out the cool tech in the computer room, get cozy in the kitchen, go wild at the backyard pool party, look through childhood memories in the bedroom, swap tales in the basement, and look up at the stars with friends on the rooftop. So turn the page, and come on this vibrant journey into the past with us - this is one celebration you definitely don’t want to miss!
Finding the voice within
The Finding the Voice Within special edition zine is finally here! We collaborated with the XU English Course Union (ECU) last year to help creatives look within to find their unique voices with help from Dr. Lauren Kirshner. The Performance Night saw so much talent and enthusiasm, we are excited to share some of those writing pieces in the zine! Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed their work. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Agasha Kankunda for designing and compiling the Finding the Voice Within zine with our Co-Editors Eunice and Rebecca!
NOT SO ALONE
album + ZINE
Nearing the end of the 2020-2021 school year, we can't help but miss the good old days of face-to-face interaction. And that's how the idea of NOT SO ALONE was born - out of the overwhelming desire to find some semblance of connection in our ongoing state of isolation. Even if we can't be together in person, we can still come together to enjoy all the amazing artistic work here at X University. And what better way to represent that than via an imaginary radio broadcast?
When you tune into the radio, you’re listening along with thousands of other city residents. You might feel alone in your apartment, but above you and below you and across the street are people who are listening and drawing comfort from the art that's being sent out over the air - just like you. That’s why our NOT SO ALONE project includes a zine publication and an audio album! Formatted in the style of a radio broadcast, the album features disgruntled callers, local business commercials, and our very own "DJs" guiding you through it all. Listeners of the album and readers of the zine will be able to immerse themselves in the complex, vibrant imaginary city of our radio station alter-ego, "The Continuist Underground." Be sure to keep an eye and an ear out for all the little Easter eggs that connect the album, zine, and our social media to the same wacky, wonderful world. There's so much to explore...so what are you waiting for? Turn the page, tune into our "broadcast," and remember - you're not so alone when you're listening to The Continuist Underground.
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Hall of Mirrors
Trapped in a confined space, forced to confront images or versions of ourselves that are warped, twisted, and stretched beyond our recognition - this past year has often felt as strange as a summer fair funhouse, where reality is suspended and the only thing to do is move forward. With that in mind, we wanted to give artists a space in which they can feel free to go out of their comfort zones, and express their experiences of 2020.
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THE HALL OF MIRRORS AWAITS
SPOTLIGHT
Our first zine publication of the 2020/2021 year, SPOTLIGHT aims to amplify the voices of artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or as people of colour, who want to use their art to speak out on the issues of racism, violence, and representation which are so prevalent in our lives today.