THE POSITIVE MESSAGE OF NEW AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Why Zeens?

WHY PRINT-ZINES (ZEENS)?
Because the nature of zeens makes them an active agent and promoter of literature, as opposed to blogs and web-sites, which seldom get their authors out from behind the computer. On-line literature will seldom snag people who aren't already interested in literature.

The successful zeen publisher is out in the world; selling, trading, promoting, marketing his or her wares. It brings literature TO the public-- more often to those not previously interested in literature. The demographic is broader.

Passive lit-blogs or active zeens?

Lit-blogs are written by and for the same folks who've studiously gone through writing programs; who buy their reading exclusively at B&N and Borders.

Anyone who's tabled at, or been to, a crowded Zine Fair knows that it's a true alternative to conglomerate dominance. Most lit-bloggers by contrast are unthinkingly supportive of the status quo.

The revival of literature depends upon reaching a much wider swath of the American public than it does now. Zeens can do that.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting argument from a guy with a gazillion blogs and no zine production for quite some time.

Karl Wenclas said...

Agreed!