Tong, K-L; (2020) DIY Print Activism in Digital Age: Zines in Hong Kong's Social Movements. ZINES

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Abstract

Hong Kong has experienced two of its largest social movements in history in recent years: the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement in 2019, in which many artists and activists used zines as a means to participate. This article aims to explain the popularity of political zines in Hong Kong and the unique functions of zines in the digital age by interviewing zinesters, distributors, and collectors. In this article, a zine is broadly defined as an independent, not-for-profit, Do-it-Yourself form of paper publication. This article argues that unlike mainstream print media, zine production is benefited from digital transformation which can further simplify the means of production and expand distribution network. Also, this article argues that digitization and DIY culture democratize the means of publishing and Hong Kong’s protest zines are the by-product of both forces. Zines have become a democratic object with passion and affection, presenting an alternative account of everyday life.

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