12 Culture Zine Project (2025)

An assignment I currently use is a two-part culture zine project.

Once zines are complete, our class has a zine share day. Students are given time to look through peer projects and offer feedback. As a class we discuss what similarities and differences stood out among the cultures that were studied.  Students are invited to share examples of times they noticed themselves examining a culture with an ethnocentric view, or what places they imagine would lead to the greatest amount of culture shock upon visiting.

Assignment: Concept Map 

Part 1 of 2: Exploring Culture

Due: 

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Purpose:

This assignment will help you:
1. Understand the elements of culture.
2. Identify and categorize aspects of material and non-material culture in a society.
3. Develop skills in organizing ideas visually to support a creative project.

By completing this assignment, you’ll lay the groundwork for creating a zine for part 2 of this assignment. (more on that later)

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What is a Concept Map?

A concept map is a visual tool used to organize and represent information. It starts with a central idea, which branches out to related concepts, creating a web of interconnected ideas. This method helps you see relationships between topics and organize your thoughts clearly. For this assignment, your concept map will center on “Society/Culture” and branch into two key areas: Material Culture, Non-Material Culture. From these areas, you will branch out further with your specific examples. For more information and examples click hereLinks to an external site.. There is also an example for this assignment located in the resources module of week 3.

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Task:

1. Choose a Society
   Select a society and culture that you’d like to explore. This can be a society you’re familiar with or one you’d like to learn more about. Please do not choose the country you have spent the most years of your life living in.

   2. Research the culture and find examples
   Gather information about the society (please no Wikipedia), and choose concepts listed in chapter 3Links to an external site. of your text, focusing on the following:

– Material Culture: Identify 5 categories of material culture and provide specific, detailed examples. Examples of categories include food, buildings, monuments, machines, tools, clothes, utensils, furniture, art

– Non-Material Culture: Identify 5 concepts of non-material culture from chapter three of your text and provide specific examples. Examples of course concepts include values/beliefs (counts as one concept), ideal culture, real culture, sanctions, informal norms, formal norms, mores, folkways, language, symbols, social institutions (education, political, religion, etc)

3. Create a Concept Map
   Use a concept map to visually organize your research. Your map should clearly label and connect:
   – The society’s name (center of your map).
   – links (arrows) connecting society to sub topics of material culture and non-material culture
   – links from material and non material culture to categories and concepts
   – links from each concepts to specific example.

Hand drawn maps are encouraged!

4. Please attach sources. ie: where did you get this information? You can list websites at the bottom/back/separate page

Criteria for Success:

A successful concept map will:
– Clearly label the society you’ve chosen. (1 point)
– Include 5 categories of material culture and 5 concepts of non-material culture, with specific examples for each. (2 points for each concept/example, 20 points total)
– Be formatted with nodes and links as provided in example (4 points)

Zine Creation Assignment: Exploring Culture Part 2

Overview

In part two of our cultural exploration assignment, you will create a zine that showcases your research on a different society’s material and non-material culture. As discussed in our library session, zines are small, creative booklets that allow you to express your ideas with art and in writing. You’ll use your concept map and the information you’ve gathered to highlight cultural aspects of your chosen society.

Purpose

This assignment will help you:

• Explore and analyze different elements of culture.
• Apply sociological concepts on culture (e.g., norms, values, symbols, material culture, etc.).
• Develop skills in synthesizing research and presenting it creatively.

Task

Step 1: Write an introductory paragraph for your zine that includes:

• Geographic location: Where is the culture primarily found?
• Population size: Provide an approximate figure.
• Type of society: Is it preindustrial, industrial, or postindustrial?
• Focus of your zine: Summarize the cultural aspects you’ll highlight. Name the four aspects of material culture and four aspects of non-material culture you’ll explore.
• Why you chose this society: Explain what makes it interesting to you.

Example:

“The Maasai are a preindustrial pastoral society located in Kenya and northern Tanzania, with a population of around 1 million people. This zine will explore their material culture, including clothes, food, homes, and tools, as well as their non-material culture, including values/beliefs, informal norms, formal norms, and the social institution of education. I chose to study the Maasai because I am interested in the differences between this traditional preindustrial society and my postindustrial society.”

Step 2: Create Your Zine
Your zine should include at least five sections of content and be in a booklet format.

• Page count:
  • If using large sheets of paper (e.g., folded letter), your zine could have as few as 5 pages. For smaller sheets, your zine could be 11 pages or more.

Required elements for your zine:

• Cover Page (Page 1): Include your name, date, title, and the society name.
• Introduction (Page 2): Include your introductory paragraph.
• Material Culture Section: Highlight four aspects of material culture, using specific examples for each.
• Non-Material Culture Section: Highlight four aspects of non-material culture, using specific examples for each.
• Sources (Last Page/Back Page): Include web addresses for all your sources.

Design tips:

• Use visuals (drawings, photos, collages) on every page to make your zine engaging.

Step 3: Share Your Zine and Reflect

• Bring your zine to class on Monday, April 28, and be prepared to share it with the class.

Criteria for Success (55 Points Total)

• Booklet Format: 5 points
• Cover Page: 2 points
• Introduction: 10 points
• Material Culture: 8 points (four examples with specific details)
• Non-Material Culture: 8 points (four examples with specific details)
• Visual Design: 18 points (thoughtful use of images, symbols, drawings, or other design elements on every page except the source page)
• Sources: 4 points