Scrapbooks and zines

Scrapbooks and zines share the quality of allowing the writer/creator to put on the paper whatever they choose. Being able to put whatever their heart desires on the paper allows these types of writing to be everyday writing. What the person chooses to put on the paper represents them personally and could have deep meaning to them. Katriel and Farrell compare scrapbooks as a “genre of self” meaning that scrapbooks are a representation of a specific person's life and experiences. Zines are similar but zines can represent the author themselves and how they produce the zine or the images and such within the zine. Zines are also made to share for a bigger audience to enjoy, scrapbooking is meant to share with only personable people. These both may not seem like your typical every day writing route, because they are not. People use scrapbooks and vines to display images and tangible items of memories and happy moments in one's life. They are everyday items of everyday events and pictures that reflect upon one's life. The items such as pictures of the first day of school and different school dances are everyday events which are shown in the writings. They often contain brief wording just to allow the reader or maker to jog their memory on the event. Katriel and Farrell state,"...scrapbooks represent an established mode of self narration commonly found among young people." This statement suggests that the pictures and items within the scrapbook can mostly explain themselves without having to write about them. They do not follow a specific outline because each person is a different individual, making it more personal. Having everyday events and brief moments of reflection allow these pieces to be a part of everyday writing.