Denton’s burgeoning zine scene more than a cheap thrill

by Corrisa Jackson of North Texas Daily

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Local zines are sold at Mad World Records on the Square.

Taylor Kimbrough sits at a desk in her friend’s dimly lit basement chopping pieces of typing paper in half. The space around her is cluttered with sketches and scraps of paper, a bottle of glue, and a half-finished bottle of Dos Equis. Notes and poems fill the corkboard in front of the desk.

She’s in the early stages of making the independent monthly publication, Cheap Thrill.

The halved pages of typing paper stacking up on the desk will become pages for the magazine-like publication Kimbrough and others are using to connect to the Denton community. Cutouts, poetry, art, and written submissions combine with content gathered from the Internet to fill the pages of the independent publication, called a “zine.”

Each issue is designed, hand-sketched and pasted together in the basement office space.

“This is the only time I’ll have to do this, when I have all these creative people around me,” she said.

Zines are a far cry from the magazines found in bookstores. Instead of the clean layouts and glossy pages, zines are photocopied on typing paper and literally cut and pasted. These patchwork publications enjoy a creative freedom most mainstream publications do not, but zine creators rarely turn a profit.

Kimbrough’s publication is no exception. Since she started in June, she hasn’t made a profit, but she’s not losing much either. Her cost of production is around $.50 per copy, and issues are sold for $1. She typically makes 40 copies of each issue, but makes more some months, depending on demand, she said.

Cut and paste history

Kimbrough was exposed to zines through the punk scene she became a part of. She was attracted to the “lawless art,” of the culture, she said, and got to work creating her own in June of this year.

Cheap Thrill and other local zines, such as Pace, a zine similar to Cheap Thrill, and Rubberneck, a photo zine, are sold at Mad World Records on the Square.

Daniel Fried, a Mad World Records employee, said people relate to the small-scale publications because they always want to talk about music and their lives, and the store carries zines in an attempt to foster creativity among the community.

Inspiration

As Kimbrough puts the final touches on her latest issue of Cheap Thrill, she explores the city for interesting aspects of Denton life. She finds inspiration in everything from children’s books to old magazines, and even her late grandfather.

Kimbrough said there isn’t a specific process she goes through to create Cheap Thrill.

“The process is lots of cigarettes and looking at magazines,” she said.

Kimbrough chose paper and scissors to get her art and message across instead of the Internet because it’s more intimate, she said.

Bradford Purdom, a history senior, has submitted a few pieces to Kimbrough’s zine.

In addition to submitted content, Purdom helped Kimbrough set up the website for the zine.

People gravitate toward zines because they want to connect with and read the thoughts of others, he said.

“I think it’s kinda cool how a lot of people are doing zines in the area right now,” he said. “I think everyone is interested in being published and sharing pieces of themselves.”

For people who create content and actually make the zines, getting feedback and support on the work is comforting, Purdom said.

The driving force for Kimbrough in creating Cheap Thrill is the need to create and connect with others, she said. It’s why she can’t put the scissors, glue bottles and magazine clippings down.

Kimbrough said she doesn’t have a time frame for how long she’ll continue – as long she stays inspired and has the resources to do it, she’ll keep cutting and pasting.

Kimbrough is currently working on the Halloween issue of Cheap Thrill.

“I want to do a good one for October because everyone loves Halloween in Denton,” she said.

When it comes to zine rules, there are none, except to not imitate others, Kimbrough said.

“Art should not be competitive; art is something that is bad ass,” she said. “If something is created and it’s badass, it should be supported.”

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