The theme of “Self” can be interpreted differently by different people, because everyone has a different ways to grow and a different way of thinking. I have been thinking for a long time about how Zine should present “Self”. What I came up with was that I wanted to show what I and others had experienced when they growing up, to remind modern young people that they can find their true selves and the freedom of their souls.
My concept for the magazine was to show a lot of the state of the youth of today and what I see in society. Because of the fast-paced society, young people nowadays spend too much time on false socializing and soul-less vanity. I don’t believe this is their true self. False socializing leads to unfounded rumors, untrustworthy friendships, and cowardly people who are afraid to voice their opinions. Vanity is not a bad thing, but the pursuit of materialistic and superficial things can overlook what is really going on in the heart. At the same time, many people at this age will make fun of people who are different from them, and many people do not know how to respect and will denigrate those they do not like behind their backs. These criticisms lead to many people being afraid to show their true selves and to feelings of inferiority and weakness. In my ideal utopia, everyone should live happily and without fear, not with a mask. Everyone should shine brightly and respect everyone who is different from themselves.
So far, the concept of ‘Self’ is based on the different stages of my growth, as each person grows up with different pursuits leading to a different self. I want to be happy, strong, never regret the decisions I make, respect everyone around me and be kind. To be young, to make mistakes, and to have the courage to take responsibility for what you do. These are the same requirements that I wanted to create a magazine that would make others think about their own lives, what they are looking for, and the courage to express themselves by resonating with young people.