Zines As An Inter-discipline of Publication and Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Architecture and publication have evolvingly been interdependent in the presence of books, magazines and with digital information system. It is both association of disciplines in which paved to a growing promotion of works and communication of idea. This dynamic is more complex, nuanced, and expansive in passing of time - how an information of physicality is converted as a way of seeing and as a design driver.

          It is a dynamic of defining architecture in multifaceted philosophies were engaged in this medium; and vice versa, to alter the former. Emergence of new platforms in publication such as our social media has an ongoing dissemination of content accessible through our smartphones- is also raising new questions and arteries for testing new theories. It is intriguing how the intimate relationship between the two are cross-pollinating towards the re/birth of medium.

ZINES

Image is taken from Temporary Academy of Un/Re/Learning. The lecture is of Self-Publishing and Dissection of Violence, by Czar Kristoff.

          Zines are resurfacing and has been growing an appeal towards the younger generation for its intimate connection between the creator and its audience. This for one is a product of publication being  rethink from early modernism- as an outlet to materialize rejected sci-fi stories- such as the creation of comic book hero: Superman. This media cover topics of interest including fiction, politics, poetry, arts & design, social theories, journals, and so forth. It is exchanged within a small group for the pleasure of others who share the same interest.

          Zines are less accessible as compared to the mass media such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter for the purpose of liberate expression of ideas and promotion of work that has its own niche, It is practiced against the algorithm of our go-to apps for the benefit of defining and testing a different approach, assumption, argument, or concept which may be a taboo with the existing institutions. It is best to revel in with ideas that are uncontested with interests. The goal of it beyond is to hone individual skills and talent, towards balanced media consumption, and to share a niche subject opposed to seeking profit.

ARCHITECTURE AS AN OUTLET FOR PASSION

Image above is a zine titled "Prototypes 2014-2019"; a collection of works under realization from my college career. I prepared the zine to find niche while looking for a job beyond the institution. 

I am introducing Fictive Realities, a passion project aiming to contextualize the writings of a doctor in history from the University of Oxford and a lecturer from Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Yuval Noah Harrari, with current affairs that shape the emergent futures of the communities I belong (the ASEAN region rather). This will involve selected news and articles from reputable media channels to form precis that aims to maintain a clear picture the threats of ecological cataclysms, nuclear war, and technological disruptions that are highly relevant in my generation. It follows the production of zine as medium which allows to continue share the way we think about architecture in ways of: 1) Understanding architecture which may be a potential solution, 2) Architecture which connects us with our emotions, 3) Architecture to inspire in us some new feeling. 

          Understanding architecture which is a reaction-  As we alter our attitude towards our generation, our goal is to understand as deeply as possible how profoundly the spirit of our generation, and the time we have live in have influence in understanding the world. We try to define certain issues that we observe based in our generation that we choose to define. This is to enlighten how design drives can illuminate the status quo- may it be fictional, is an initiative for possible reaction. The role of architecture can cross-discipline in reactions of:

• Disillusionment- How do we introduce new socio-political model? Development of infotech and biotech has social and political implications.

• Work- How do we slow down the pace of change, and what to do if job loss outstrip job creation? The development of artificial intelligence can outperform  humans. Jobs are threatened from automation, machine learning and robotics.

• Liberty-How do we introduce new socioeconomic models? We are investing so heavily about political and economical needs rather than our own long term needs as conscious person.

• Equality- How do we regulate ownership of data? Property is prerequisite for long term inequality

Architecture for our resilience- The appreciation of architecture also has its symbols which allows us to connect our works profoundly with a tone. The millennial for example displayed an idealism for live, work and play. Henceforth defining our tone in this period personally or collectively towards an event or a particular configuration. We continuously understand meaning, learn, or to simply cope. These are scoped in the following.

• Education- How do we make sense of information to tell the difference of what is important and to combine many bits of information into a broad picture of the world? To succeed in such a daunting task you will need to know what you are and what you want from life.

• Meaning- If we cannot leave something tangible behind- such as a gene or a poem- perhaps is it enough to make a the world a little better? What we know and we don't know keeps on changing.

• Meditation- How do we get in touch with reality? Brain research and meditation must complement.

Architecture to inspire in us a collective feeling- Architecture can be an outlet to define how the built environment could be. Discourse towards contested spaces, social issues towards urban landscape, and many more are progressing; but, stressful. What if it has resulted to a particular result with a feeling? What if a place is altered towards a subject of personal indulgence? What if there’s a place that seems a counter content against the volatile thing that is going on? The role of architecture can cross-discipline to inspire a new feeling towards:

• Community- How can we financially support community services? Algorithm may be good for navigating vehicles and curing disease, but when it comes to solving social problems, we should still rely with people.

• Nationalism- How do we value our culture and tradition while providing military and economic protective shell? We now have global ecology, global economy, and global science but we are still stuck with only national politics.

• Religion - How can holy scriptures guide us in the era of artificial intelligence, bioengineering, global warming and cyberwarfare? So far, modern ideologies, scientific experts and national government have failed to create a viable vision for the future of humanity.

• Immigration- How do we allow immigrants, adapt to common norms and values and assimilate? Unlike traditional racist bigotry, culturism has much firmer scientific basis.

ZINES AS AN UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATIVITY

Architecture and zine has great opportunities for honing skills in both discipline, balances media consumption, and can establish an offline community. What is more exciting is how both can tap in our creative process towards different possibilities as complicated as it is intriguing. Fictive Realities zine project is meaning to have a small gathering for people my age with a venue I'm trying to close, to save a four to five figure budget, hopefully on the 1st quarter of 2021 if permits, find optimistic works grounded with given threads. If you find yourself interested in helping tackle these constraints will be appreciated. More information will be shared on its instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/fictive.realities.zine/ .