When we were first given this task, I didn’t know what a zine exactly was, but after researching different types and styles, I am intrigued as to how I can make a zine based around my chosen theme. The examples in the mood board below are styles I find interesting and inspired me into some of my ideas for my own zine. I chose a combination of both graphic and illustrative styles as I plan to include both in my work. In particular, I am drawn to the comic style image in the bottom right corner, as I feel it could be a good way of communicating with the audience visually. Another technique I found when researching was finding a portrait and collaging on top, either slightly or to the point the person was no longer recognisable. Lastly, something I found interesting was the saying ‘less is more’ is true when it comes to zines, which is something I hope to be able to communicate with my own work.
Following my research, I brainstormed some ideas for my theme which I had an interest in, as I felt it would be easier to come up with graphic designs and compositions if I had a passion for what I was making. After this, I researched some themes that would be in films I liked to see if there was any I found interesting and the ones that stood out were Conspiracy, Chaos & Order, and Obsession.
My initial idea was to choose Sport as it was something I have a keen interest in, but after receiving feedback I decided to switch to the theme of Chaos & Order as it would allow me to be experimental and explore more designs within it. I created mind maps of my initial ideas for my theme along with some visual ideas I hope to include in my zine.
After this, I researched images to do with both Chaos & Order and created a second mood board. The most common image I found when researching chaos was wires and expressive paintings, which I thought could be an effective image if I simplified it down to simple coloured lines in my zine with text on top. In particular, I included some political riots that could be classed as chaos as it would be a recent example. In terms of order, the main result I found was Law & Order, with the judge and gavel, restraining order and police. In terms of the definition of ‘order’ the common denominator was the use of instructions and commands. I felt this was an interesting take on it as it would allow me to create graphics and designs like warning signs along with the idea of the ‘command’ button on computers which would allow me to introduce the idea of computers in my zine. After carrying out my research, it left me with some questions like is there really any difference between the two, for example one persons sense of chaos maybe another’s idea of order. So the idea of it depends on your point of view came to mind which is something I hope to explore in my zine.
During my research I came across the Chaos Theory, which links back to my question of is there really any difference between the two and are they as contrasting as they appear on first look. The Chaos Theory is a description of motion which cannot be predicted in the long term even though it is produced by a deterministic system, human made. This lead me to question how we can define the two as being different if one is dependent on the other.
