So You Dug Up a Radical Rag? How to Cite a Zine (Chicago Style, Baby!)
Ever stumble upon a self-published masterpiece in a dusty corner of a record store? Maybe it's a feminist riot grrrl manifesto stapled together with love, or a conspiracy theory zine bound by chewing gum (hey, no judgement!). Now you want to include this gem in your research paper, but how do you even begin to cite a zine in that fancy Chicago style?
Fear not, fellow word warriors! This guide will have you referencing those underground gems like a champ. But first, a word of warning:
Chicago Can Be a Fussy Librarian:
Chicago style loves its periods and commas more than a hipster loves ironic mustaches. It might seem uptight at first, but trust us, a little structure goes a long way – especially when you're dealing with the wild world of zines.
Alright, Let's Wrangle This Zine!
Here's what you'll need to hunt down to craft a proper Chicago citation:
- The Zine Author (if there is one): This might be a pseudonym, a collective name, or even just a cool nickname like "Razorblade Ramona."
- The Zine Title: Duh. But hey, some zines have titles that are more cryptic than a David Lynch film.
- Issue Number (if applicable): Some zines are one-timers, glorious bursts of rebellion. Others are multi-issue epics, like the zine equivalent of "Game of Thrones" (but hopefully with less incest).
- Publication City and Year: This might be hidden somewhere on the back page, scrawled in a barely legible font. Grab your magnifying glass, detective!
- Page Numbers (optional, but librarian points awarded for including them): Did you find a particularly insightful rant on page 13? Give it a shout-out!
Building Your Citation: A Step-by-Step with Flair
Now that you've gathered your intel, let's construct that citation! Here's a breakdown with a dash of humor (because research shouldn't feel like chewing cardboard):
- Author's Last Name, First Name. (If it's a collective or pseudonym, just use the name on the zine.) Example: "Smith, Jane" or "Anarchy Ants Collective"
- Title of Zine. Italicize this bad boy! Example: Screaming at the Patriarchy
- Issue Number (if applicable). Put this in brackets after the title. Example: Screaming at the Patriarchy (Issue 3)
- (City of Publication: Publisher, Year). City and publisher might be the same if it's a self-published zine. Example: (Chicago: Razorblade Ramona Press, 1997)
Putting it All Together: Behold, Your Citation Majesty!
Here's the final product, ready to impress your professor (or at least make them raise an eyebrow in amusement):
Smith, Jane. Screaming at the Patriarchy (Issue 3). (Chicago: Razorblade Ramona Press, 1997)
Bonus Round: In-Text Citations (Chicago Style Loves Them Too!)
Let's say you want to reference that insightful rant on page 13 we mentioned earlier. Here's how to do an in-text citation:
(Smith 13)
See? Easy as, well, not pie, because citing zines is a unique skill. But with this guide, you'll be a zine-referencing champion in no time! Now go forth and conquer that research paper, and remember: a little bit of Chicago style can go a long way in the wild world of underground publications.
