Zines can be more truthful
Zines are more truthful than other media because their
writing tends to be more generalized and inclusive. (Even
when dealing with specialized topics.)
I think this is a major factor as to why people become
disillusioned with mass media in the first place.
Specialization may well be inherently less truthful.
We respond to that by feeling that it: a) sucks, b) isn’t like real life.
Again, even with specialized reports, it’s usually possible to be
more inclusive and thus more truthful than the formula for mass
media allows.
For one thing, mass media indulges the conceit that the writer
is not involved. Ta da, the lie starts creeping in right there.
In zining, the writer is almost always involved.
In writing about anything, in a zine you’ll usually find other
aspects of life as relates to the subject being covered. In, ugh,
a music report, the writer will mention what happened before
or after a music concert, the road trip, the food, his parents
and friends. Seemingly unrelated, seemingly undisciplined
items will be included that actually help set the scene, give
context. Set, setting and side effects are very impt to giving
a truthful picture about anything. Zining does this VERY well,
and amazingly easily.
The main thing perhaps is that in all their reports, mass media
are basically shills for the industry they represent. It can be no
other way for them. And the margins are thin, so they press is
aspect harder than they used to. (The industry used to just coast
along for the ride, now it calls the shots or anyone involved
simply sucks up out of habit.) Mass media present an incomplete
picture, a narrow “tight” focus, in order to mislead. It’s part of the lie.
Even when zinesters lie, it doesn’t work. They reveal enuf of their
set and setting so that it’s discernible and actually just gets built
into more set and setting so that it isn’t even a lie but helps the
reader simply understand the writer more. —Sees him as a biased
lefty or an ignorant so-and-so or clearly as a teenager in the
hate-parents stage or what have you.
Well, heck, then I guess I could say the same about mass media.
Its lies don’t fool me. They educate me. They’re obvious.
Ah, but perhaps in both zines and mass media it’s the lies that
are one step ahead of us that get us. Mass media knows that
even those who complain about TV will shop more if they watch it.
Bitching ignorant zinesters still increase the cachet and coolness of rebellion.
You think you know, yet you still get sucked up in it. The myth of
‘interesting.’ That sort of thing.
Still, by including more of life, zines seem to be more truthful
and thus more appealing to a sense of integrity than mass media.
