A Contemporary Zine

Absolute Punk

This site has a variety of features dedicated to punk eg interview sections, reviews, tour updates, etc. The section im interested in is the journal component and how it acts as a contemporary version of a zine in that it provides a space where people can write about anything that interest thems, bugs them or whatever - people are given the chance to become authors and express their feelings and share their views with anyone who wants to read about them, this is one of the key motivations behind zines. With it being an online publication, the users actually have the ability to contribute to other peoples entries - the end result being that a forum is developed and a cummunity is created between those who participate.

The journal thread "Music mends broken hearts" features an exhaustive amount of entries on a variety of topics. I thought it was interesting to see how Lawrence Grossberg's Affective Alliance theory was being put into practice by these people as they wrote about how music is what gets them through the day and that some songs hold a special place in their hearts because it signifies an important moment in their lives.

The site is interesting because you are given an insight into a variety of people's lives and minds - rather than just the editor which was the case with the traditional printed version of zines. Its amazing where new technology has taken us.