HYPERLOCAL UNIVERSITY
Ongoing collaborations with universities are one of the most important parts of the Hyperlocal ecosystem. In partnership with subject-matter experts, we co-create and deliver curricula, workshops, and mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students on using zines as research methodology.
Duke University
University Collaborator: Dr. Adam Rosenblatt
Professor (International Comparative Studies & Cultural Anthropology); Director (Duke Human Rights Center)
Class: Death, Burials, and Justice in the Americas (Undergraduate)
Zine Objective: In this class about burial practices and rights, student groups are each assigned a different local burial ground in Durham and tasked with creating a zine documenting its associated history, stewardship, and community. The students are mentored through the semester on zines and final works* are vended from the Hyperlocal vending machine in the Durham Food Hall as part of an experimental project encouraging students to explore print media, like zines, as a medium for distilling and communicating hyperlocal research topics. The cemeteries included are: Durham Hebrew Cemetery, Geer Cemetery, Avila Infant Cemetery, Erwin Mills/Cedar Hills Cemetery, Snow Hill/Catawba Trail Farm, and JIAR Muslim Cemetery.
Other Hyperlocal Collaborations @ Duke U
Out Today, Out To Stay Questbook & Map
An interactive passport-style zine featuring Duke and Durham’s queer and LGBTQ+ resources and history highlights (with a companion map) for students to use to collect stamps with during Coming Out Day. Commissioned by the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD) at Duke.
Women Who Made History in Durham, NC Zine
A custom illustration and companion zine for International Women's History Month featuring the achievements of women at Duke and Durham throughout history. Commissioned by the Women's Center at Duke. The design was also screenprinted live on shirts for campus members throughout the month.
UNC - Chapel Hill
University Collaborator: Dr. Ashley Hernández
Assistant Professor (Department of City and Regional Planning)
Class: Diversity & Inequality in Cities (Graduate) / The Hood is Not for Sale (Undergraduate)
Zine Objective: In this class about urban planning, class, and gentrification, students are mentored in zine-making throughout the semester and produce zines about various urbanist topics of their choice, usually revolving around local topics, as part of their final project for the class.
Other Hyperlocal Collaborations @ UNC
UNC Lecture & Workshop Series
A zine basics workshop with a focus on telling stories at the intersection of urbanism, sustainability, and community. A guest lecture presented for UNC Build UP and the undergraduate class "Science Fiction, The Environment, and Vulnerable Communities."
*Students' final projects for class are meant as learning experiences and not polished artistic pieces. Students come from varied academic disciplines and are not expected to produce polished visual pieces. They are graded on creativite and intellectual rigor.