Zine Review: Karton #13

Karton is a zine about “alternative music, DIY, and piracy” that started in October 2019 among the members of Krav Boca, a rave/hip-hop/punk band based in Toulouse, but constantly wandering around Paris and Athens. For five years before launching the first issue, Krav Boca toured squats and alternative spaces, encountering an informal network of noise makers, activists, and all kinds of people resisting boredom and authority.

Karton Zine is the crew’s collective shot at capturing the vast diversity of the worldwide DIY community. It’s packed with stories of all the fascinating characters they’ve met—individuals and collective projects that have somehow managed to turn our late capitalist dystopia into a colorful playground of loud music, pirate parties and experimenting with new ways of life without hierarchies, nation flags or legal constraints.

The zine is a bilingual conspiracy, with each piece translated into both French and English. Every issue follows a consistent editorial structure, making it easier to maintain focus and coherence. The new 13th issue (May – August 2024) is dedicated to the feminist and queer struggles, featuring important queer-feminist voices in the punk scene, from the small town of Montreuil in France to the metropolis of Montréal in Quebec.

In the introduction, the authors remind us that there has been a significant rise in voices against sexual and gender-based violence, challenging long-standing toxic behaviors. Despite this progress, deeply ingrained, retrogressive elements opposing feminist ideas have gained prominence, exemplified by the surge in masculinist ideology. This backlash against progressive ideologies makes it imperative for activists to broaden their perspectives beyond their immediate circles to understand the real world.

A DIY band interviewed in this issue is King Kong Meuf, the provocative queer-feminist ensemble from Montreuil who take their name from French writer Virginie Despentes, but expand their influences with explosive performances and an in-your-face attitude confronting the aging male-dominated punk scene, masculinity, and regressive ways of thinking.

The Tonk’art artist feature in this issue includes an interview with illustrator Pierre Ferrero, whose comics depict the rise of neo-fascist ideologies within the highest spheres of the French government.

Worldwide Activists is the section where authors tell the stories of militants they encounter on the road, transforming our troubled world through direct action and self-determination. This issue features the collective Collectif La Papet’, who occupy and revitalize abandoned warehouses and factories in the area between Bordeaux and Agen in France.

A DIY Experience is is an editorial that highlights the personal journey and creative process of individuals the authors have met on the road. In this issue, it features young Parisian underground producer Théa— “Combining rap, electro, and pop-punk elements, Théa delivers digital Molotov cocktails while seamlessly linking Katy Perry to Linkin Park!”

Karton Rouge (Red Card) stands out as one of the most intriguing sections of the zine, offering an antiauthoritarian, political perspective on sports. The latest issue features a captivating article titled “Red Alpinism: Struggles Between Sky and Earth,” exploring the intersections of alpinism (mountaineering) and social struggles. Beginning with a powerful description of social workers taking kids to climb a glacier in the Alps, the article threads through historical and political contexts, showing mountains as symbols of freedom, resistance, or oppression. Referencing Guillaume Goutte’s Alpinisme et Anarchisme, it critiques alpinism’s association with privileged elites and militaristic conquests, reflecting on its transformation into a proletarian activity emphasizing mutual aid and collective responsibility. In contrast to the rise of commercial climbing spaces, the article spotlights grassroots groups like Alpinpunx, celebrating mountains as sanctuaries from state control and addressing the pressing issue of climate change. It concludes with an inspiring reflection on climbing for solidarity and humanity, leaving readers with a thought-provoking message from Collective Alpinismo Molotov about our profound relationship with nature.

Interviews of Myrtille and the chocolate factory is another great section of Karton Zine, highlighting shared life experiences that question identities in a queer way. In this issue, Myrtille interviews our favorite folks at Montreal’s Les Insoumises collective, which promotes women, transgender, non-binary, and POC artists in a variety of ways.

Karton #13 also features a passionate report on the first Underdogs punk and rap festival organized by the members of Krav Boca in Toulouse. Plus, a review of the fantastic new GURS album, which we premiered at DIY Conspiracy, and a Playlist with Cristina of MatraK AttakK and Kalashnikov Collective.

Karton Zine only costs €5 in print, but as with all back issues, it’s available for free download in digital format. Many articles from this and previous issues have also been published online at Karton’s website.

Download Karton Zine #13

By now, everyone following DIY Conspiracy is likely familiar with Karton Zine, as we share many common interests and approaches to punk music and life. However, we’ve somehow missed reviewing previous issues until now. That said, 13 is my favorite number, so this is a great place to start. It costs us nothing to review each new issue as it comes out. Camaraderie. 🏴‍☠️🔥