Books Archives | Page 15 of 22 | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Category: Books

Behind the zines: Looking into local zine culture

There are several reasons zines have experienced a resurgence. It could be our lack of access to homegrown literature in major bookstores; it could be that we are ultimately nostalgists at heart; or it could be their cheap and DIY nature we’re so drawn to. But at the spine of it all is the form of escapism they offer, both to the artist and the audience. Stapled and flawed, zines piece together an untampered creative freedom the mainstream usually deprives us of. Getting everyone’s sheets together, they are a refuge for young creatives to express paper-led testimonies of feelings, aesthetics, and cultural ideologies.

As far as we know, local zine culture has flourished since the ’80s, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that we saw the community actually turning a page. A major factor in this growth is a small press expo called Better Living Through Xeroxography (BLTX). Since its inception in 2010, BLTX has not only branched out into different locations around the Philippines (Quezon City, Naga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Baguio), but it has also been providing a safe space where voices of women and the LGBTQ community can be heard. It inspired zine enthusiastic collectives like Magpies Press and Studio Soup Zine Library to strive in leaving paper trails of diverse expression as well.

We go behind the zines with BLTX’s Adam David; Magpies Press’ Mac Andre Arboleda, Shaunnah Cledera, Paulyne Gonzales, and Pam Mendoza; Studio Soup Zine Library’s Camz Dagal and Eva Yu; and comic artist Hulyen to discuss how small-circulation self-published work can make a significant difference in our society.

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5 reasons to attend the first Big Bad Wolf Book Sale in Manila

Reading actual books rather than our respective social media timelines is something we all ought to do some more this coming year. But with the rising prices of physical novels and books these days, it takes a big toll on our pockets if ever we want to hoard our favorite titles. Fret not though, because next week, the biggest book fair ever is coming to Manila and it’s got discounts and deals you need to see to believe.

If you haven’t heard of the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, a popular book fair that originated in Malaysia, then y’all are probably in for a treat once it lands on our local shores. Here’s five facts and reasons why you absolutely cannot miss this book lover’s dream come true.

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