Beirut Zine Festival

A zine (/ˈziːn/ zeen; an abbreviation of fanzine), is most commonly a small circulation and self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images usually reproduced via photocopier. Zines are written in a variety of formats, from desktop-published text to comics to handwritten text (an example being the hardcore punk zine Cometbus). Print remains the most popular zine format, usually photocopied with a small circulation. Topics covered are broad, including fanfiction, politics, poetry, punk and hardcore music, art and design, ephemera, personal journals, social theory, single-topic obsession, or sexual content far enough from the mainstream to be prohibitive of inclusion in more traditional media. The time and materials necessary to create a zine are seldom matched by revenue from zine sales. 

Now that you know what a zine is, you've probably guessed this sub-culture is still alien to Lebanon. Clearly, the festival organizers had a problem with that. The result: An initiation to this DIY (doityouself) concept that is loaded with creativity and activism. Who knows? you may be inspired! (besides "zine maker" would be an uber cool title, wouldn't it?)

The event will also include a "zine jam" with Daneila from ReKult, who is coming straight from Amsterdam to drop her beats in our backyard. Are you intrigued yet? Then go!