Undertheorized is an experimental social science fanzine started by anthropology PhD students at the University of Chicago. We seek to cultivate an interdisciplinary and pan-institutional community of persons involved in social science research who are interested in exploring modes of scholarly communication beyond the academic-prose publication or art installation. We prioritize collaboration, connection and accessibility over specialized registers, critique, or conceptual innovation.
What is a fanzine, anyway?
A fanzine is a multi-author publication, typically produced collaboratively by a community anchored by shared interest in some cultural phenomenon, for others who share their enthusiasm. The purpose of a fanzine is often to communicate with a non-expert, yet invested party: that is, simply, to connect (and, perhaps, to depart with some self-importance). Anyone can produce a fanzine, with any paper technologies they have access to, from pen and ink to offset printing.
For us, a fanzine is a modality of interdisciplinary collaboration and connection-making: we want to unite persons invested in the messy process of doing social research, creating resonances through unspecialized reflection on empirical cases and personal experiences of work in progress. Anyone can contribute to our publication, regardless of institutional affiliation.
What is riso?
Undertheorized utilizes a risograph printing method to produce our fanzine. Riso is like a photocopier that operates similarly to a silkscreen printing process, using eco-friendly inks.
Risotto has a pretty cool (animated!) elaboration of how the risograph process works.
Undertheorized in the Literature 