Being Yourself in a Creative City: Zines, Social Identity, and Community Dynamics in Bandung

Abstract

Zines are grassroots media closely tied to social identity, serving as platforms for communities to form, express, and strengthen their collective identity. This study examines zines in Bandung that play a vital role in shaping the social dynamics of local communities through practices such as distribution in public spaces like coffee shops and bicycle workshops. Drawing on Caswell’s (2014, 2018) principles of community archiving—Participation, Shared Stewardship, Multiplicity, Activism, Reflexivity, and Valuing Affect—this research explores how zines function as relational artifacts that sustain cultural resilience. Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 2004) is employed to analyze how zines act as collective symbols that foster in-group identity across diverse subcultures, including cycling, music, and street art communities. Additionally, existentialist concepts such as Sartre’s “existence precedes essence” and Heidegger’s “Mitsein” are applied to bridge the personal and communal dimensions of zine culture. The findings reveal that zines in Bandung are not merely tools for information dissemination but also serve as collective archives that preserve the identity and memory of local communities. Their physical format and distribution practices resist digital homogenization, offering a tangible medium to celebrate community existence authentically while supporting cultural resilience in Southeast Asia.