Notes on the fan-scholar: feminism and DIY graphic ephemera

This paper will draw upon the work of feminist design historians (Buckley 1986, Scotford 2000, Attfield 2000) in order to reappraise the role that self-publishing print platforms have played in the construction of a feminist history. Mainstream magazines have been the conventional frame through which feminist and 'feminine‘ identities have been constructed and critiqued. However, it may be argued that DIY publications (e.g. fanzines and broadsheets) generated 'below critical radar‘ provide an equally rich resource for shaping a history/critique through both content and mode of production. Ultimately the graphic object becomes the vehicle through which subject/object relationships may be explored (Attfield 2000).

Paper presented for panel: Researching DIY Feminist Cultures: Fragilities, crisis/conflict and ethical responsibilities:

Although recognition of the role of culture (music, art, film, fanzines) within feminism has increased in recent years (e.g. Cvetkovich 2003; Enke 2007; Reger 2007; Harris 2008) there has been relatively little discussion of the practical, personal and ethical challenges in producing and publishing research on DIY feminist cultural worlds. This panel draws together individuals who have inhabited different positions in relation to the DIY worlds they have researched/are researching to discuss the role of conflict in DIY cultures, the problems of inhabiting an activist/academic divide and whether crisis and conflict is essential for the effective transformation and movement of feminism. It is hoped that the experiences of the panellists will lead onto a wider discussion of ethics and challenges of doing research within/on/outside DIY feminist cultures.