Media-Sphere: Convergence, Image-Flow, and Transmission
The support system of the punk aesthetic fell on the support of low brow technology (ex. copiers, zines, word of mouth) because the point of punk aesthetic is D.I.Y.
Zines worked for the punk aesthetic as reactionary to "the outside" world, away from the underground. This method of communication followed very small circulatory circles, where transmission is relegated to email subscriptions, mail, and whatever availability one has at their local cafe. Their zines were created in the same way that band flyers were made, through cut and paste collages run through a copier, with few colors to save on ink. Even the collection of zines has been made available to small circles, places like the Denver Zine Library rely on the audience's commute in order to relay first and second editions of zines.
The stress of zine and punk aesthetic, especially through print media, focuses on the need for items to remain either authentic or ironic, either way the presentation and replication of media is looked down upon.
However, media within the mediasphere has adapted with the times, zine libraries and small press articles have been moved to specifically online platforms, like blogs, websites, and etc. Not only are they easier to add onto websites, but the click rate and ability to access these zines has become easier as well.
As a consequence the kitch and collectability of items like zines has risen, but so has the availability and image-flow.
Zines worked for the punk aesthetic as reactionary to "the outside" world, away from the underground. This method of communication followed very small circulatory circles, where transmission is relegated to email subscriptions, mail, and whatever availability one has at their local cafe. Their zines were created in the same way that band flyers were made, through cut and paste collages run through a copier, with few colors to save on ink. Even the collection of zines has been made available to small circles, places like the Denver Zine Library rely on the audience's commute in order to relay first and second editions of zines.
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| Denver Zine Library |
The stress of zine and punk aesthetic, especially through print media, focuses on the need for items to remain either authentic or ironic, either way the presentation and replication of media is looked down upon.
However, media within the mediasphere has adapted with the times, zine libraries and small press articles have been moved to specifically online platforms, like blogs, websites, and etc. Not only are they easier to add onto websites, but the click rate and ability to access these zines has become easier as well.
As a consequence the kitch and collectability of items like zines has risen, but so has the availability and image-flow.