I hate to subject anyone to a flowery introduction, so let’s just cut to the chase: My name is Miranda and this summer I will be New Voices Magazine’s zine review columnist. While my curtness may suggest differently, I’m so excited to usher zines into Jewish spaces and to spark discussion, intrigue, and query into what zines are, how they can help us understand ourselves as Jews, and how to appreciate this form of creative expression. A zine is a (usually) self-published print or online publication filled with art, writing, online media interfaces, poetry, comics, even household items. Zines are subversive in nature and if you’ll allow me to put on my tinfoil hat, they are a tool to disseminate underground information about things the U.S government doesn’t want you to learn. Or it’s recipes. Or a personal narrative. Or a how-to guide on fixing your bike. The point is that a zine can really be anything. Some people make zines, some zine makers are Jewish (check out the Jewish Zine Archive to see more!), and some Jewish zine makers will be featured in this very column.
Here, I’ll be reviewing zines made by Jewish creators and giving my takes on their publications. I really don’t want to use my role as a reviewer to shut down ideas that creators are discussing. Instead I’ll opt for “critical discourse” to uplift authors; But if someone is spewing some questionable takes, I will use thoughtfulness, logic, and evidence to make my case, though I hope that is understood without me saying. This is all to further conversation beyond the end of the zine.
Something we did in hebrew school when the adults could not control the classroom was chevrutah, or study with friends. I see my reviews as being part of the chevrutah tradition. I can’t control everything, but my column can be in conversation with creators and readers alike. I won’t obstruct those who are creating exceptional work by hiding my praise but I’m also not a psychic, so please be open with your engagement so I can be a voice in a discussion, not a lone lecturer. Email me at sullim1297@gmail.com.
There are too many stale beliefs around what it means to be a Jew in the North American diaspora. I’m so over talking to Jews why they should care about Palestine, or how the Jewish community is anti-Black, or whether Trisha Paytas is good for the Jews or not (I’m undecided on that last one actually). In more seriousness, my opposition to racism, colonialism, imperialism, Zionism, and capitalism is unwavering. Progressive Jewish voices are stifled by corporate PACs, neo-liberal nonprofits, and Christian Zionist evangelicals. My hope is that despite the systemic hurdles we face, that I can direct readers towards Jewish zine artists who are considering fresh ideas.
Zines are important because historically they’re platforms used to bring light to issues that have gone unspoken or ignored. Part of not “gatekeeping” is using my platform on New Voices to point readers toward important work, and that work to me is part of a shared desire towards collective liberation, forgive my utilization of another set of lefty buzzwords.
Art takes many forms, and as a multidisciplinary artist, I appreciate the vast routes a zine can take in how it looks, what it says, and who is consuming it. At this political moment, we’re seeing a major shift in Jewish thought around Palestinian solidarity work, how to make our community more accessible, and what antisemitism really is. We need Jewish voices that are unabashed and willing to go beyond what our communities have always accepted as fact. Zines allow us to experiment in questioning what was once taboo and to create reflections of this in community. With that, I think it’s time for me to hop off my soapbox now.
When I’ve shown my book of zine pages to people, they often laugh at the old school IDs, the set of batteries, the stolen playing cards from a friend’s ex, among many other oddities that were put in by me or my friends. Sharing zines is part of the joy of creating them. You read zines in community and exchanging them is a huge part of what sets zines aside from traditional publications.
When I am not lamenting the state of the world or declaring my allegiance to zinery I’m usually drawing, writing, taking photographs, biking, swimming, laughing, playing instruments, or going on long walks. This summer my side gig is being a secretary, where in my free time I peruse local news outlets and talk about the weather with Gen Xers. I’m studying Sociology, Social Policy, and Computer Science and when I’m not ranting about Jewish-ness and capitalism, I’m ranting about the evils of Big Tech and capitalism. Perhaps you came here by chance but now you know a little more about me and maybe even want to read further. Welcome to the review series!
Stay tuned for new zine reviews by Miranda Sullivan, coming soon to New Voices Magazine. If you know of a Jewish zine that we should review, send an email to sullim1297@gmail.com or to our editor, at editor@newvoices.org.
