The Pains of a Former Underground "Journalist"
by Derick Varn

The pulse of a crowd can sweep through you, leaving exhausted mass of flesh that has been engorged with adrenaline and sweating. This happens at punk rock concerts, Klan rallies, democratic national conventions, Shiite Muslim jyhads, and almost any number of events that involve twenty or more emotional people. It is this hysteria that has allowed men of all kinds to wield mass groups of people through power of sentimental speeches or highly-charged rhetoric. Writers, however, don’t have access to the irrationality of large groups captivated by personalities or vocal inflections.

This seems obvious, but I think a lot of the writers within the political ‘zine subculture fail to realize rhetoric is much less effective in writing. The ‘zine writers are often the most sincere and the least effective of “journalists.” Liberal ‘zines often to turn to the end of the 19th century Marxist terminology. Conservative ‘zines either make the same mistakes in faulty logic as their mainstream representatives or appear extremely fanatical. These zinesters only fail in so much that they try to use the rhetoric used in rallies and pass it off as “journalism.”

It seems to me that this problem stems from a confusion of two very astutely confused ideas: political sincerity and unbiased journalism. The rhetorical approach of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Jesus, and Hitler don’t work as well on paper; however, all these speakers are cited as embodiments of political sincerity. Now couple this with the idea that a magazine or news paper writer is supposed to be “objective” and you see a problem. Rhetoric is propaganda and propaganda is, by nature, not objective.

This was something I did not realize as a “rogue journalist” when I did the ‘zine thing a few years back. There was a rush to taking up reporting with the charge of conviction. I remember looking down at the stapled together newspapers and thinking “damn, I can change the world.”

Now, in reflection, I realize that I served a purpose to the mainstream: my bias was so obvious that it makes “mainstream” opinion look “legitimate.” Now, most people who study media realize that all of the major newspaper companies and broadcasting organizations have an extreme and sneaky bias. In Mass Communication classes, they call these ministers of propaganda, “Gate Keepers.” Gate Keepers decide what goes on and off on the daily news. In this lies the extreme bias.

The reliance on a forced and unnatural coupling of “objectivity” and the rhetoric of popular speeches have weakened the points of ‘zinesters in their ongoing battle with mainstream media. Many ‘zines have realized what artists have known for years–art is more powerful than “journalism” when you don’t have the benefit of a powerful speaker. Art does not claim to be objective and its argument is based on narrative and not rhetorical to be effective. Art is the one of the few threats to “mainstream” perceptions that exist without the need of massive financing.

At least, that’s why I left journalism for art. I needed to have effect with what I was saying. That’s what matters to me: saying something effectively. It seems to me that the one I am writing for right now has a lot to say if you pay attention.

Derick Varn is a poet and longstanding contributor to Unlikely Stories. Check out his literary works at this site.