In My Mailbox 11/13/04
The Inner Swine
mailbox--yahoo! I hate trips in general, and business trips the
most--what a pointless waste of my existence. But I must find the money
for liquor somewhere, and you parasites haven't come through with riches
and fame, so I must scrape myself off on the world a little at a time.
But there is joy in my PO Box, in the form of
-- First off, a roll of toilet paper from the ex-Rev Randall Tinear,
which to be honest, amuses me to no end. Thanks, Randall.
-- Smelling Trees (project one, lovely heads, trade/$8 sub ($13
Canada/Mexico, $16 elsewhere, Smelling Trees, 2133 HWY317, Suite 14-239,
Suwanee, GA 30024; sun_...@smellingtrees.com). Offered up to me as a
trade for TIS, it's nicely done, a mix of handwritten and word-processed
words on newsprint (apparently printed by the Small Pub Co-op) with the
only immediate drawback being the dark printing rubs off on your
fingers, which Sun Moon apologizes for in the little note she sent me.
She suggests buying a single "project" (issue) but gives no price for a
single. Send her something in trade if you wanna see if it's worth an $8
sub (also no specification about how many issues you get for that money,
unless I'm reading lazy as I normally do and missed it).
-- Chaos Free Comix #22 (no price listed, usur...@cox.net;
members.cox.net/usurptoe). There's a lot of energy jumping off the pages
of this small, tighly-packed comic. What I wonder is, why do some
publishers make it so darn hard to figure out how to acquire more
issues? I mean, is it so hard to list a price and a snail-mail contact?
Harrumph.
-- The Spirit World (no price listed, The Camelopard, PO Box 10145,
Berkeley, CA 94709; ma...@wonderella.com). Billed as "Pamphlet #5 in the
Camelopard Series , A Course of Study for Aspiring Mentalists" this
certainly looks interesting, as does just about everything that stems
from the Wonderella folks. Thought the word "Mentalist" always makes me
giggle.
-- Living Proof #2 & #3 ($3, PO Box 14211, Chicago, IL 60614;
livin...@atm4.net; http://www.atm4.net) Always interesting to me when
two issues of a zine look drastically different, since my own zine has
looked exactly the same from issue to issue since 1995. I'm a big
believer in templates, as I barely have time to write the words, much
less recreate the design every time. Both these issues look fantastic,
though, so all is forgiven, and they're packed with words, so how can
you go wrong? Although both are numbered, which displeases me. I could
probably write a lengthy essay on why numbered issues of zines
displeases me, but no one would care, so I won't.
-- Leeking Ink #29 ($2) and Xerography Debt # 15 ($3) (both: Davida G.
Breier, PO Box 963, Havre de Grace, MD 21078; dav...@leekinginc.com;
www.leekinginc.com). Hurrah for Ms. Breier, whose writing I always
enjoy. Of course, not only am I reveiwed YET AGAIN in XD15, I also
contribute a lame column to it, so I am far from objective in my love
for XD, so ignore anything I might say about it. Though Donny Smith's
review of TIS 8(2) is one of my faves right out of the box: "...Jeff is
cute. He's just the sort of straight boy I would have had a huge crush
on in my undergrad days" HUZZAH FOR JEFF!
-- Passions #38 ($3.50 [checks payable to Ken Bausert] 2140 Erma Drive,
East Meadow, NY 11554-1120). Another packed ish from the only CPA that
sends me free issues. It's always an adventure with Passions since you
never know what you're getting, and that's kind of cool.
That's it. Someday I know I will open my PO Box and there will be a
bottle of Johnny Walker Blue sitting in there, and it will make the last
few years of zine-toil worth it.
L
J
--
The Inner Swine
www.innerswine.com
Oscar Crosshatch
> I could
> probably write a lengthy essay on why numbered issues of zines
> displeases me, but no one would care, so I won't.
That seems like it could be of interest.
~E
Marc Parker
Yeah! As my friend Morgan would say: do it, do it, do it!
I've always wondered why you go with the volume-number thing, Jeff,
like you're fucking Time or something. Let's get into it!
I, for one, can tell you that I think of my zine like a comic book.
Even if there's no artwork whatsoever. That's why I number serially.
What do you think of that, brah?
XO,
MRP
Andrew Livingproof
c'mon, hit us!
marc, i don't think he was referring to the serial vs. volume numbering of
zines, he was referring to the fact that each copy of my zine is
individually numbered. ie, maybe he got copy 56/200 of #2 and 147/300 of #3.
andrew / livingproof.
"Marc Parker" <azma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c57bdf31.04111...@posting.google.com...
The Inner Swine
says...
> let me chime in here, in addition to the email i sent you the other day.
> c'mon, hit us!
>
> marc, i don't think he was referring to the serial vs. volume numbering of
> zines, he was referring to the fact that each copy of my zine is
> individually numbered. ie, maybe he got copy 56/200 of #2 and 147/300 of #3.
Yes, I wasn't referring to the numbering of issues, but to the
individual numbering of copies. As usual, my reasons for this are
largely capricious, illogical, and personal, hence my reluctance to spew
them here. However, I did actually write a column on this subject for my
web site back in 2002:
http://www.innerswine.com/moreshit/ms25.html
If you don't wanna be bothered seeing the column with formatting and
italics and such, I'll put the text of the column at the bottom of this
post.
As for my own crazed habit of volume(issue) numbering everything, it's
the last vestige of my original, 1993-era thinking that I was going to
put out an actual magazine. When I first discussed putting out my own
magazine with some friends, I'd never heard of zines, and we were
discussing actually putting out a Real Magazine (TM). Two years later,
I'd abandoned any thought of that ridiculous goal and had started to
realize that a zine was a different, and probably better, idea. But the
volume and issues remain, because once I create a template, I stick to
it, bubba.
April 2, 2002
Number 288 of 324
Precious Little Zines
Zoiks! That this zine takes up far more of my energy and attention than
is healthy can't be denied, but at least I have a healthy capitalist
attitude towards it: mass production. Sure, I don't make any money off
the damn thing (more's the pity), but at least I don't futz about with
various precious schemes like individually hand-drawn covers, numbered
issues, or ridiculously inefficient manufacturing techniques. I am ready
to admit to myself what many of my fellow zine-publishers can't: zines
are entertainment, and are therefore consumed. Sure, some people might
collect them, but those people are probably a little strange, just like
the people who collect any regular periodical. I slap the issues
together with gleeful speed and fart them out into the world without any
concern for quality control or consistency, which I regard as my
trademark. My trademark: no quality control or consistency. And
repetition. If it's low quality and inconsistent, you're holding an
Inner Swine!
So I don't know exactly what to do when I get zines which are treated
like little pieces of art. The most curious thing is the hand numbered
zine, "issue 34 of 344" and the like. To put it as eloquently as my
huge, HAL2000-like brain can, what the fuck is up with that? You're
writing quite a large check when you individually number the issues of
your zine, mi amigo, and I have yet to find the numbered zine that can
cash it. In my opinion, the only things that should ever be numbered are
things with actual cash value, like money itself, bubba. Things I get
free in the mail should not be numbered.
I could start numbering The Inner Swine I guess. Something like "Number
22 of as many as I can scam out of my employer before they go Enron and
it's back to butcher paper and crayons for me". Hmmn...I like that.
ACTUAL CASH VALUE: THE INNER SWINE STORY
There have been quite a few zines in my mailbox which are actually very
beautiful pieces of art, with gorgeous hand-painted covers, little pop-
ups doohickies in the middle, all sorts of arty touches. Some of these,
of course, did not survive the cruel, delirious handling of the
outpatients who populate The United States Postal Service,
unfortunately. This saddens me, because I imagine little Jimmy or Suzy
Zine-maker sitting at home up until the wee hours painstakingly
constructing all twelve issues of their limited-run zine titled For
God's Sake Take Me Seriously or I Will Write More Poetry, then deciding
to send me one of those twelve issues (number seven, let's call him
Rusty), getting out their very special calligraphy pen to scratch the
number onto each cover. They wait breathlessly for the torrent of twelve
stunned emails to come back and affirm their genius. Meanwhile, when I
get the damned thing it is damp, torn, and apparently stepped on. And
possibly read by postal employees, who then took the time to scrawl
editorial comments on the zine in disturbing red pen. Prying apart the
glued-together pages, only a sad remnant of ole' Rusty remains. His last
gasp is to bleed sad arty ink all over my hands, and in a fit of rage I
burn him to ashes. You bastards in the USPS!! The day is coming when we
won't take it anymore!!! The streets will run red! RUSTY WILL BE
AVENGED!
Don't get me wrong, most of these precious zines are actually quite good
when you get past the bullshit and read them. I just wonder about the
value of the dressing. When McSweeney's does shit like that I sit around
with my zine friends and laugh my ass off at Dave Eggers' incredibly
shiny ego and idiotic, smug irony in place of actual talent. Doesn't
Dave Eggers' smug lack of talent bother ANYONE else? Jesus, people, come
on! So why should I cut a break to the more self-important buggers in
zineland? All that matters to me if whether the zine has something
interesting to say and plenty of it. All the dressing doesn't hurt, but
it doesn't help either.
Then again, zineland is a place where people actually dislike you if you
distribute too many issues, so what the fuck, do what you want, the Red
Queen will be out later to play cricket.
------------------
The Inner Swine
www.innerswine.com
ashaanderson
<link...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Then again, zineland is a place where people actually dislike you if you
>distribute too many issues, so what the fuck, do what you want, the Red
>Queen will be out later to play cricket.
No cricket today. The Red Queen is sobering up in the bathroom.
a.
http://www.ashabot.com
blog: http://www.ashabot.blogspot.com
Keep out of damn ditch.
Marc Parker
> individual numbering of copies. As usual, my reasons for this are
> largely capricious, illogical, and personal, hence my reluctance to spew
> them here. However, I did actually write a column on this subject for my
> web site back in 2002:
Oh, sorry then. In that case, I agree with you. Individually numbering
each issue is a bit, what's the word, pretentious. Like, yay, I got
number seventy-four. Not that I don't appreciate a personal touch in a
zine, but I for one never print up all my copies of any issue at once.
Two hundred uncollated, unstapled zines can kill a person.
The Inner Swine
azma...@yahoo.com says...
It's true. I've had several near-death experiences whilst stapling my
zine. We need zine replicators, like on Star trek, where I can just say
"TIS Eleven One, fifty" and they'll appear in the microwave or
something. Until then, I will persist with the winged monkeys and
oommpah-loompahs.
L
J
--
ashaanderson
wrote:
OTOH, numbering studio editions is acceptable in the art world. In
fact it adds value. Always a risk though. If people don't like your
work, you're more likely to look like a little fool than an artist.
bob
>
> OTOH, numbering studio editions is acceptable in the art world. In
> fact it adds value. Always a risk though. If people don't like your
> work, you're more likely to look like a little fool than an artist.
>
> a.
Which brings up a good point. If you are creating a hand-make
publication, like "28 Pages Lovingly Bound with Twine", numbering your
issues, I feel, would be acceptable. Especially since it's "closer" to
an actual work of art than, say, and edition of MR&R.
But then again, if a zinester is only cranking out 50 copies of a zine
(and that's all that's ever made of the zine), even if it was
photocopied, couldn't THAT be considered an art piece based on the
limited quantity available?
Where does media begin and art end?
ashaanderson
>Which brings up a good point. If you are creating a hand-make
>publication, like "28 Pages Lovingly Bound with Twine", numbering your
>issues, I feel, would be acceptable. Especially since it's "closer" to
>an actual work of art than, say, and edition of MR&R.
>
>But then again, if a zinester is only cranking out 50 copies of a zine
>(and that's all that's ever made of the zine), even if it was
>photocopied, couldn't THAT be considered an art piece based on the
>limited quantity available?
>
>Where does media begin and art end?
Quantity has nothing to do it. And I don't think love does either.
Personally, I believe a work has to connect the personal to the
universal to be even minor art. But hell. Number your zines if you
want. You know what they're about. I, for one, certainly don't think
zines can ONLY be "of the moment" i.e. junk publications. There's no
Zine Board of Directors making rules for the rest of us to live by.
It's you're publication. Make of it what you will. No one can tell
you what you can or cannot do.
Just don't get precious about yourself if you do want to be a serious
artist. Softheadedness is your first and last enemy.
Dan
> zines can ONLY be "of the moment" i.e. junk publications. There's no
> Zine Board of Directors making rules for the rest of us to live by.
Hey, maybe there should be! Heh. -dan
ashaanderson
How about the ULA? ;)
bob
>
> Just don't get precious about yourself if you do want to be a serious
> artist. Softheadedness is your first and last enemy.
>
Actually, my first enemy was birth, my last will be death. Both are
inescapable.
As for being "precious", are you referring to the overarching "you" of
the group or me, personally. Just wanted to be clear.
PS – As for the rest of it, I was just playing devils advocate. I
think true art has been dead for hundreds of years… or at least since
the inception of the FOX network.
Vlorbik
that ever actually (hand) numbered
zine print runs. i had a damn good reason:
to wit, it seemed like a good idea
at the time. but for sure, my stuff
has *never* been intended to disappear:
write for the ages or go back home
and talk to your loved ones, i say.
i like it that zine fanatics of this time
*and* of future generations will usually
be able to read off scribbles in my hand
telling 'em which printing they've got
(and how many were printed ...
as to which exact one they've got,
while admittedly almost entirely arbitrary,
the question has an amusing quaintness).
i'm not about to start lovingly binding
the damn things with twine about it
or anything but i want the artifact
to imply in its very nature that it was
copied and assembled by its creator.
ashaanderson
>Asha Anderson wrote in message news:<534rp0p64dlf5fcji...@4ax.com>...
>>
>> Just don't get precious about yourself if you do want to be a serious
>> artist. Softheadedness is your first and last enemy.
>>
>
>Actually, my first enemy was birth, my last will be death. Both are
>inescapable.
>
>As for being "precious", are you referring to the overarching "you" of
>the group or me, personally. Just wanted to be clear.
>
I mean...Don't Flinch. The Good is the enemy of the Best. If you get
caught in the trap of "honoring" your work because it's "done with
love"... blahblahblah, you won't have the guts the achieve the Best.
ashaanderson
>i'm not about to start lovingly binding
>the damn things with twine about it
>or anything but i want the artifact
>to imply in its very nature that it was
>copied and assembled by its creator.
I like that. Maybe I'll start numbering the damn things. At the
moment I am noting beta versions of the current zine I'm working on.
Right now I'm in beta version 3. It helps me keep track of things but
you're right. As long as I'm not publishing solely for the bottom of
the bird cage, numbering runs is interesting information... to those
who are interested in the first place.
Dan
> Actually, my first enemy was birth, my last will be death. Both are
> inescapable.
Not if you cyrogenetically freeze your head! Then in the Futurama when
they solve most of life's mysteries you can live forever as a talking
head. -dan
Dan
first print run of 10 Things I did 500 and went to 1000 on my next one. My
zine was intended to be big and well-circulated from the get go, hand
numbering wasn't really an option. But I have always loved lower run print
run zines with unique features done by hand, they seem like something more
than a regular zine. Too bad most of them have shitty poetry in them
and boring writing, but maybe they are making up for the poor content
with prettiness and uniqueness. -dan
bob
Futurama should be broadcast on huge screens all across the country,
like the graying dictators shown in various "1984 take-off" movies.
Futurama is king.
Bob