Duncombe's "A Club of Our Own"

In this chapter from Duncombe's Notes from the Underground, Duncombe discusses how zines were vital to both individualistic and communicative aspects of punk culture. He noted that though most zines were produced by individuals, they often took in articles, art, letters, or advertisements from other people or music venues. By doing so, he claimed that they were creating "a new, albeit virtual, community of friends [the zinesters] can feel connected to" (47). This community helped connect the widely dispersed mini-Bohemias, those which were often not only in big cities but also in small towns. The article also discussed the importance of zines in the Riot Grrrl movement; zines allowed girls to write their own histories, write what's on their mind, write things that other girls should hear. Instead of continuing the typical role of consumer, these people are becoming producers, creating their own content to share and exchange with each other.

Discussion question: Though people still continue to make zines (check out your local record store), they seem to be losing relevance as people use blogs such as this as their outlet to the world. How do blogs compare to zines? What are some of the advantages/disadvantes?