Undefinable and Uncontainable: Irish Modern Zines and their Embodiment of Queer Theory

Abstract

This article examines zines as an inherently queer medium, arguing that they do not merely represent queer themes but actively enact queer theory through their form, process, and modes of production. Drawing on a thematic analysis of seven contemporary Irish zines alongside practice-based research, the study explores how zines embody key principles of queer theory, including non-conformity, resistance to mainstream structures, accessibility, and non-linear narrative forms. The research is informed by the creation of an original zine, What the F*ck Is Queer Theory, developed as a method of engaging queer theory through practice. Reflecting on the process of making reveals how zine-making functions as a form of queering in action, prioritising experimentation, and process over product. By foregrounding practice as a site of knowledge production, this article contributes to creative media research by articulating zine-making as a rigorous, practice-led methodology and expands existing scholarship on zines by focusing on contemporary Irish contexts.