From Thomas Paine’s 1775 pamphlet, Common Sense, to the manifestos of the 1990s Riot Grrrl movement, zines have punctuated political and social movements throughout history all over the world. A zine (short for magazine or fanzine) is a self-published, small circulation creation that has traditionally embraced a “do it yourself” or DIY ethos. Because zines have served as mediums of communication in various subcultures throughout time, they hold significance both in the evolution of art and design as well as markers of popular culture and social opinion. In this class, we’ll begin framing students' own zine-making course-work by exploring the history of zines, visiting significant zine collections housed in the New York Public Library and Bard college, and exploring the possibility of zine-making as a vehicle for community building. Throughout the semester, students will learn bookbinding and paper folding techniques and make a set of zines on themes of their choice.