Kate Zambreno

Zines are stereotypically defined by their format--photocopied, stapled, idiosyncratic rants. But to Zine Guide's Brent Riztel, zines are a mindset. "Zines are defined in their content, in the issues they discuss, and what dialogue they participate in," says the editor of the six-year-old Ukrainian Village-based biannual publication. "It's a response to the mainstream, to the status quo, to the herd mentality of consumerism and consumption." Another popular conception of the self-published periodicals is that they're now so '97. It's true, admits Riztel, that the media spotlight on zines has died down, and that submissions from across the country and the world to be included in the Zine Guide listings have dropped 30 to 40 percent, to two thousand last year. But zine culture, both under- and above ground, is still alive and well, assures Riztel, who also publishes his own zine "Tail Spins." The current political climate makes him hope for an resurgence. "I'm pretty sure that with the election of the current administration a lot more political zines came out," he says.

Brent Riztel reads on May 10 at 7:30pm at Quimby's, 1854 West North, (773)342-0910, along with Todd Dills ("The 2nd Hand"), Michello Aiello ("Indigo") and Grant Schreiber ("Judas Goat Quarterly").

(2003-05-07)

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