RESEARCH

What kinds of research have you done?

-- Primary: Accounts from queer people who made zines and the zines that they made.

-- Secondary: Articles about queer history and zines

-- What is your method/approach to your story? I will be finding zines at libraries that have them and people writing about what it was like at the time and using those.

-- Who do you want to read your research paper? Queer people and people who know a bit about queer history and would like to learn more.

Research Interests:

I'm curious about how queer people used and use zines, how they were distributed, and how they navigated criminalization when it was illegal.

I think they fit into the idea of hidden histories because: queer people were a lot less visible during the 1970s and 80s, and zines were relatively hidden, because they're not public.

Precedents: What has influenced my interest in this question?

Being queer myself, as well as being interested in how people make queer friends when it's dangerous to be out and how distribution of zines works.

Research Methods

I used X & Y archives:

-- Papercut Zine Library

-- QZAP Zine Archive

These archives tended to have X & Y materials:

-- Zines

Research Question

How did queer people in the mid-late 1900s share information using zines?

STORIES:

I could use my current research to tell the story like this:

I could talk about how zines and the easy ability to share information have shaped queer culture

I could use my current research to tell the story like this:

I could talk about how the ability to have very local and interconnected communities helps people find a sense of belonging

I could use my current research to tell the story like this:

I could talk about how zines can help marginalized people connect when it's dangerous to be open

Writing Plan (What am I doing next)

I need to do more research into actual zines, rather than just reading articles

I want people to take away more knowledge about how zines work and how they have shaped the queer community

I'm going to present my research in a research paper

EXAMPLES OF THE FORM THAT I LIKE AND WANT TO EMULATE:

1) If my overall concept is too broad or too narrow, and if it should be adjusted

2) What should I focus on in my research paper?

3) Are there any other topics or parts to this topic that I should cover?

Seeking feedback on: