Jigsaw (Zine)

An illustration from Jigsaw, Number 3, page 24.

Jigsaw is a zine, or fanzine, which was co-created by prominent female punk rockers Tobi Vail and Kathleen Hanna in 1991 and printed from Olympia, Washington. Jigsaw No. 3, one of the many issues of the Jigsaw zine, uses social commentary, community outreach, and the interests of the authors to cover a wide range of topics, including bands, local performances, and politics.

Summary

The beginning of the zine is about an artist that the author likes, Kim Deal, who the author uses this to proceed into the crux of what the zine is about. She discusses society's avoidance of political conversation in sophisticated environments and criticizes the concept of professionalism and sophistication in music. She goes on to discuss her sociopolitical beliefs; she condemns misogyny and sexism as anti-revolutionary in all forms, calls out racism in the punk and rock-and-roll scene, and criticizes homophobia as well. Vail uses Jigsaw to truly express herself and her feelings about the music scene and being a punk woman. Jigsaw is part of a series of zines that Vail published to inform the community about important topics. It serves as an advertisement for upcoming concerts, especially starring her friends, and as a call to arms for social issues she cares about.

She talks about the exclusion of girls from punk spaces, the way that boys who claim to be non conforming only go for girls who do conform, and female-fronted band concerts only being attended by boys when they find the girls cute. She defends queer voices and communities, endorses queer and female zines, and stresses the importance of a strong community.

References and Promotions

Vail uses Jigsaw No. 3 to promote a variety of independent and alternative projects by friends and fellow community members, including:

• Kim Deal (Alternative musician and inspiration for Jigsaw)
• Prunella (Band)
• Simple Machines (Music label)
• Mecca Normal (Band)
• Comrades in Arms (Band)
• Ulysses (Band)
• Fuck Me Blind (Book by M. F.)
• The Most Beautiful Girl is a Dead Girl (Book by M. F.)
• Girl Germs (Band)
• Bratmobile (Band)
• Bikini Kill (Band)
• Heavens to Betsy (Band)
• Revolution Girl Style Now (Band)
• Witchipoo (Band)
• Some Velvet Sidewalk (Band)
• Fitz of Depression (Band)
• Seaweed (Band)
• Beat Happening (Band)
• Nirvana (Band)
• Giant Henry (Band)
• April 73 (Band)

Background

“Riot Grrrl” is the name of the movement that was started in the 1990s in Olympia, Washington by a small group of women in the punk scene. The movement aimed to provide a space where women could speak up and talk about sexual violence and sex and gender-based discrimination, while also responding to the straight, white male domination in punk and rock culture. Riot Grrrl encouraged women to start bands, write zines, and share their stories and experiences in a safe, no-judgement environment. The movement was also a space where individuals could express themselves and not be afraid to hide who they are, including being a woman, non-binary or transgender person, person of color, and/or queer individual. Jigsaw was one of the many zines created during this movement that discusses topics like politics, female led bands, personal stories, etc. The zine influenced others to follow and support the Riot Grrl movement. Riot Grrrl opened the door for women in punk and rock, and bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy heavily influenced the creation and spread of zines and inspired more bands as well as people who were willing to support the movement.

Tobi Vail

Tobi Vail (born July 20, 1969) is a feminist music critic and musician. She was a major figure in the eruption of the Riot Grrl scene, and was actually the person that coined the spelling of “Grrl.” She is the founder of the jigsaw zine. Additionally, she is one of the founding members of the legendary band Bikini Kill.

Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna (born November 12, 1968) is also a prominent feminist activist and a staple in the female punk music community. She worked alongside Tobi Vail to construct Jigsaw zine, and is credited as a co-founder. She was the lead vocalist of Bikini Kill from 1990-1997, and later on, she became a founding member of the legendary band Le Tigre. Her most recent band, formed in 2010, is called Run Fast. Since working with Jigsaw zine, Kathleen has written her own memoir, titled Rebel Girl, which was published by Ecco/HarperCollins.