publication

Products of protest? the creative protest potential of zines on Bali

Authors:
Sophie Mahakam Anggawi
2021

This article sheds light on how the Balinese punk fan collective, Denpasar Kolektif, incorporates the ideals of DIYing—independent, anti-capitalist, non-commercial cultural production—into their production of zines, which are self-published printed booklets that can contain content from photos and illustrations to poetry and open letters. The medium of the zine as a product of alternative (sub)cultural production emerged in Indonesia in the 1990s as a consequence of politically and financially tumultuous times, as well as the formation of underground youth culture. This article examines how the Denpasar Kolektif zines embody anti-capitalist and political critique through their content, circulation and collection.