make out magazine

make out magazine’s

wo_manifesto

It was one of those days when the world seemed to make no sense. But instead of starting a frustrating, drawn-out search for meaning, we just decided to start a queer-feminist-radical-left zine dealing with cultural and socio-political issues. Our concept? It should be fun, raise eyebrows, bring together academics and punks, and at the very least, transform the world.

Because some change is goddamn necessary: as long as our society is pervaded with ideologies that degenerate humans into blokes, bimbos, airheads, nazis, sexists, homophobes, transphobes, mindless consumers, and all their blind followers, there is plenty for us to think about and criticize. And despite all this, not everything is total shit. There are a lot of cool things happening too, here and now, to be shared and experienced. All of which you’ll find in our zine.

So then, we will print not only highly theoretical texts or crazy word collages, but also DIY craft ideas, photos, comics and everything our (and your) hearts desire. We are not some theory circle or a clique – we’re about, music, social injustice, sex, everyday shortcomings, dog kennels, bipolar motors and queer food. In addition, each issue of the zine will be devoted to a particular theme. We’ll start with nerds – each of us is one in some way. The chosen theme won’t determine every last word of the entire zine, though, but will serve as a focus for selected pages, offering deeper insight into (for example) the diversity of nerdiness.

Our project brings together a variety of experience: For years Dana has organized some of the finest indie concerts with agency La Moustache and illustrates impressive poster and CD cover designs for various bands and events. With his blog Expatriarch and his monthly radio show of the same name (broadcast by BLN.FM and coloRadio, Dresden), Joey orchestrates queer chaos and emits it through fiber optic lines and the airwaves, and he can otherwise be found behind the DJ booth of various clubs getting Berliners to move in tempo.

Verena has been doing the radio show balm&creak for nine years, DJs, organizes events, and writes both professionally and for leisure about queer feminism and music. With Transnational Queer Underground she has brought to life a platform linking musicians across and beyond all borders. Zoé writes as a freelance journalist, most passionately articles about queer feminism and/or critiques of capitalism, and plays bass with the band Käptn Awesome.

Make Out Magazine – for us, that means: locking lips, letting sexy sparks fly, igniting new ideas, developing concepts, questioning social structures and comprehending the world. Make Out Magazine – also known as MOM – doesn’t thrive to condescendingly point fingers like a traditional heteronormative mother, but rather gleefully stick them in that place where it squeaks really nice. So we can say it with a clear conscience: Listen to your MOM!

And we need your help! It’s crucial to bring together a variety of interesting perspectives on board and to widen our activist network. We want queer/feminist players to gain an audience outside of our local framework so we can disseminate inspiration to others. The plan is a first edition of 1,000 copies to be sold for 3 EUR at selected locations (bookshops, etc.). The articles will be written in either German or English, accompanied by an introductory summarization in the other language.

The print will be black and white with certain pages in full color. Our website makeoutmagazine.net offers information about us, where to buy and possibly an option to buy direct online. In addition, we will post excerpts from the zine to provide a taste, and hopefully to create hunger for more. We are committed to seeking initial funding, but also plan to raise money ourselves through fundraising events.

If you want to join, write, translate, proofread, offer hand labor, criticize or do whatever else to help, please send an email to: no email anymore

Berlin, April 8th, 2011