Seed #7 Sharing My Multimodal Harvest
There are two vital, equally important reasons why I chose to make a zine for this practice in multimodal composition:
1. It's interesting to explore a social issue focused on the internet in an entirely non-digital format. Zine making in particular feels like a good vehicle to encourage resistance, messy creativity, and in-person connection in the internet age.
2. I really really really wanted to try making a zine (and an excuse to have a craft night)
I chose to respond to the text "The Attention Economy" from the Institute for Humane Technology in my zine. My main goal was to use art and the zine medium to raise awareness about the predatory business model behind social media companies. I was limited by page number and the size of the zine, so I chose to keep it brief and focus on incorporating some key phrases and poetic language to make an impact on the reader. I had a debate whether to lean more informative or artistic, and I am satisfied with the more artistic-leaning angle I ended up with. I didn't include a picture, but I did write the Institute for Humane Technology on the back to lead readers to a source with more information. My main goal was to use multimodality to spark curiosity about the issue and spread awareness.
Overall this was very fun to make and didn't take an exorbitant amount of planning to execute. I've mentioned the benefits of using zines as a tool for learning before, but I think actually making one deepened my understanding of how it could be used in the classroom. The best part about zines is there is no real "correct" way to execute it. While I jump at any chance to take an artistic approach to an assignment, I am aware that many students dread art-focused projects. The best part about zine making is students can use cut-outs, appropriated media, writing, or art to assemble their own creations. I think this is more accessible to students who aren't thrilled about traditional drawing.
Because zines can be made from anything, students have the opportunity to fully express themselves and engage with the topic on their own terms. Making this zine made me consider my own thoughts on the issue and how I could best represent those thoughts through the zine format. I think giving students the opportunity to work through their thoughts on a topic through zine creation can spark engagement and raise their own awareness of advocacy.
Zines are also meant to be shared, so in creating them students can also be encouraged to share them. I think its important to continue to share information outside of digital spaces. The appropriation of media in zine making for the purpose of raising awareness sets a good example of ethically repurposing media without falling into plagiarism.
Woahhh awesome zine!! I wish I was that artistic! Also your choice to make a zine is honestly really impactful, especially because of your focus on the attention economy. Using a tactile, non-digital format to critique systems built on constant digital engagement adds another layer of meaning to your work! It definitely encourages readers to slow down and engage more thoughtfully. I also think that using poetic language and key phrases really invites curiosity and emotional connection rather than overwhelming the audience with information.
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts on classroom application also highlights the strength of zines as an inclusive and flexible tool. There's no single "right" way to make a zine, so students with different strengths, whether in writing, collage, or design, can all participate meaningfully. This creative freedom not only increases engagement, but also allows students to explore their own perspectives on social issues. Again, great zine and blog post!!
DUDE WHAT YOUR ART IS SO COOL!!! This is really impressive! I love your commentary overall on zines, because, much like a bunch of other art forms, there isn't a real "right" way to do it, it's all up to the creator, and your creativity really broke through here! Also, it's cool that you found so much inspiration in the creative process! I did as well, I found so much inspiration during the process and my ideas were all shaped as I worked and I was really happy with the result! You captured all I could say about this too in your comments about sparking students own ideas, I really think this is a great post all wrapped up with a neat lil bow!
ReplyDeleteUmmm, that is such a cool zine! I also loved your honesty in saying part of your motivation was just wanting to try making a zine. That actually made the project feel more authentic, and it connects nicely to your larger point about creativity and accessibility in multimodal composition.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on balancing the informative and artistic approaches stood out to me a lot. I think leaning more artistic makes sense for your goal of sparking curiosity, especially since the zine format naturally invites interpretation rather than just information delivery. The way you described using poetic language and key phrases felt really aligned with that purpose.
I also thought your connection to classroom practice was really strong, especially when you talked about accessibility for students who may not feel confident with traditional art. The idea that students can use cut-outs, text, and found media makes zines feel much more inclusive than people might assume at first.
One question I had for you is how you might support students in the sharing aspect of zines, especially if some students are more private about their work. Would sharing be optional, structured in small groups, or something else?
Overall, your post made a strong case for zines as both a creative and critical tool, especially for helping students engage with complex topics like media and technology in a more personal way.