Just when I'm getting jaded about zines, reading and cataloging 50 of them a week, it's nice to discover a new favorite zinester. I don't understand why Thara Harris isn't more of a zine superstar, not that "superstar" is really a concept that should be associated with zines. But you know what I mean, there are some zinesters that become widely known in our small community for producing well-made, thoughtful, creative, and visually appealing works. Ms. Harris, from West Virginia is one of those writer/artists. Or maybe she does have a rep, and I just didn't know about it for whatever reason? I can't really tell because she doesn't have that much of a web presence.
The Remainders, which continues her earlier zine Love Letter has a surprising range of content including her and her friend's Critical Theorists rap lyrics ("Freud is a Dick" rhymes between Freud and Dora), her summer living with her boyfriends family including adventures at the Jersey Shore and with a Cookie Puss cake, a photoessay on her history with eyeglasses, lots of photobooth photos, and an adorable drawing that made me go, "She draws just like Marissa Falco." It turns out that although Thara is very accomplished in the artistic layout department, she doesn't draw like Marissa; she's friends with her. I don't want to give away what Marissa's drawing depicts because it's more fun to discover it on your own. And a little oogy, too.
If any of y'all have copies of any of Thara's zines and would like to donate them to Barnard, we will take excellent care of them!