On May 31st, our group led a class activity called “literary fanzine day” based on The Catcher in the Rye. The word “fanzine” may not seem familiar to students, but it’s definitely not estranged from the modern literary world. A blend of fan and magazine, or -zine, fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon(such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleasure of others who share their interest. Fanzines dates back to 1940’s science fictions and were first popularized within science fiction fandom, from whom it was adopted by others. These self published, photocopied collections of images and text are sometimes made into homemade magazines to promote a message or idea. The popularity and significance of zines are also revealed thorough underground punk and artistic subcultures.
Examples of Fanzines
The unique thing about fanzines is that their publishers, editors and contributors of articles or illustrations receive no financial compensation because fanzines are entirely prompted by people’s love for something. On Tuesday, we provided each group with a theme and the corresponding character such as Holden for rebelliousness and Carl Luce for sex life. We encouraged the class to be as creative with the themes they as possible. Students could cut out words, phrases, or images from magazines, doodle, and customize their pages any way they wanted. We had some amazing results. Completely unrelated subjects in the multifaceted magazines could be turned into a comprehensive analysis of Catcher in the Rye themes. Each group created their own stylish Catcher in the Rye fanzine which was collected at the end to be stapled into a color-page mini magazine.
By conducting this “literary fanzine” activity, we wanted to invigorate our classmates’ artistic potentials and encourage them to get the ideas in their head onto the paper in creative and illustrative forms. As it turned out, they produced impressive results in just one class period. There are so many contemplative details in the book and so many ways to present our thoughts about Catcher in the Rye. We have only touched upon one small aspect of the book’s interpretations, but we hope that through this activity our classmates can feel how enjoyable it is to occasionally stray away from a traditional class setting and incorporate arts and crafts into their study.
Countless kids have kindled a spark of passion, learning to nurse it through their adolescent years, possibly growing into some sort of child prodigy, in their innocent, naive dedication to their adroitness, or they could have played around with said spark, then let it dwindle to a flicker, then extinguish into a puff of smoke, it being no longer their muse.
And it’s okay to snuff out your fire if you don’t want to carry the heat anymore. There are plenty of torches along your path, all you need to do is hold one up and let it light the path you choose to endure. And if you never had a fire to begin with, it’s okay. You have the key to a world of unbiased exploration. You do not need to be bound by an early dream, a premature optimization, to be marked a good person. Just never give up.
Howbeit, I have possessed a spark, and I have chosen to let it form into an unruly inferno. Like my fire, I have grown; I have learned to control the burning, licking flames, stoking the heart of my passion, conducting my personal hellfire to rise and fall with my beckon call.
This incandescence I have acquired is none other than art.
I took my time today to look back on my art, rummaging through boxes stuffed to the rim with old artwork, ranging from my infantile scribbles, to my middle school “sad girl” phase, I am truly astonished at how I have grown so far.
Fruit in the Street by Verity Webster
This was done when I was 7, and obviously I was no Picasso. I remember drawing this, faintly, but I remember being very proud of drawing that hand, which I thought was the gosh darned diddliest hand I have ever drawn. This art period of mine consisted of fruits, monkeys drawn with sharpies (which actually bled into the books I’ve drawn on) and a few drawings of the boy I was infatuated with at the time, and I, kissing.
I try to forget those, I really do.
Moving onto my middle school drawings.
Agonized Self Portrait by Verity Webster
I keep laughing at this picture, I don’t know if it’s because of the lack of eyebrows (in actuality I barely have any, curse you, Asian genes) or because I drew myself like a knockoff version of Justin Bieber. I’m quite happy I moved on from this art style.
Modesty and the ability to laugh at yourself is a good trait to have, or to harness and gain, because what’s better than laughing? Especially if it will make you a stronger person.
On to high school.
Severed Spirit by Verity Webster, 2014-2015
Twisted Mermaid by Verity Webster, 2014-2015
I suffered through a year long art block, beginning in the mid to end of my eighth grade year of school, lasting over summer, and stopping around freshman year. Getting back onto my feet and figuring out my style again was difficult, quite similar to getting a hammered drunkard to walk a perfectly straight line. That being said, freshman year was a total (insert exaggerated, sighing, exhale here). I believe, with me being the self over-criticizing artist I am, that my art was worse than my middle school phase.
These two were drawn after I had been rejected from ASB. Yes, I do like to talk about this subject a lot, but it had changed me and my mindset drastically. This, like Picasso, was my blue period. These pieces are still part of my top 10 favorites.
This was a Valentines Day gift for my friend of our two original characters that are canonly shipped together, and I’m quite happy with the way it turned out. Originally, this was a traditional drawing, then I messed up on coloring (the one on the left was colored with a too-yellow colored pencil.) so I switched to digital. (I use the free software Medibang Paint Pro and a Intuos drawing tablet, if anyone’s wondering. I still have a ways to go with hand anatomy, though. Its okay, it can only get better from here.
Overtaken by Roses by Verity Webster
In short, this was supposed to be a plain sketch of a girl, then I added the roses, then came the thorns, then the rose petals, then the shading- and so now we’ve got a full-on art piece.
spacewoman by Verity Webster
“Houston, we have a problem… She has fallen in love with the stars and doesn’t want to go home.” – Verity Webster 1|21|16
Yes, I know its physically impossible to cup a star in the palms of your hands because a star is a sun, and a sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace – but art transcends the boundaries of reality and goes as far as your mind will stretch.
These pieces are my most recent. I have created my own style after a long roundabout of trial and error. I have a long way to go, but for now, I am actually happy with my art.
Never give up, whether it be a passion you want to explore and deepen your desire for, or in general. Don’t get demoralized, don’t lose confidence in, or underestimate your potential and capability. There is a world out there for you to explore and stretch your horizons to, and it’s a beautiful place to be.
Good luck to you and all of your future endeavors,
phantasmic mind trip publishers 