Local history zines as a visual tool of urban identity representation

Abstract

Local history zines (self-published, primarily print-based publications focused on local history and culture) are a unique medium for the visual representation of local identity. They enable residents to research, document, and share materials about their city, contributing to the formation.The central thesis of this article is that contemporary local history zines function as a hybrid method within visual anthropology, merging subjective experience with visual strategies to explore urban identity and selfhood in the city through highly personalized forms of creativity.The article examines how zines operate as a visual medium that shapes citizens’ perceptions of urban space. Particular attention is given to the role of zines in fostering connections between residents and their urban surroundings, and in articulating microhistories and marginal narratives often absent from official urban accounts.The methodological approach includes visual and textual analysis of zines, field observations, and interviews with their creators. The author analyzes how visual elements (illustrations, photographs, collages) interact with textual components (short essays, poems, personal stories) to convey urban experience and contribute to the construction of the city’s image.