Music HerStory: Women, Zines, and Punk

Zines are celebrations of self-expression. These unique documents often combine first-person narratives and frank opinion pieces with interviews, reviews, and musings on art, music, and culture. Popular today, zine use was propelled by the riot grrrl movement in the early 1990s. They connected like-minded readers and musicians through writing about women’s issues, perspectives, and experiences. Zines continue to promote community-building and creativity, especially among young women.
In this virtual panel discussion, we explored the history of zines as a grassroots medium, the impact of the riot grrl movement on modern zine creators, and the role libraries and archives play in preserving this material.
Featuring:
Allison Wolfe, co-creator of Girl Germs, Bratmobile, and Riot Grrrl
Molly Neuman, co-creator of Girl Germs, Bratmobile, and Riot Grrrl
Osa Atoe, creator of Shotgun Seamstress
Michele Casto, librarian, People’s Archive, DC Public Library
Moderated by Meredith Holmgren, curator of Music HerStory: Women and Music of Social Change