惬意忙 Monday OFF issue 1: #Mí Mèi

(2 books)

Monday OFF - founded by curator BI Xin and artist YE Funa - is a self-publishing brand focusing on the creation of zines and art books, as well as the organization of related exhibitions, workshops, and lectures under the sub-brand Mondayitis. We aim to illuminate the elusive boundaries of urban society, juggling cities' fringe issues with the public consensus. Monday OFF is a zoom lens into our rapidly evolving youth culture, our publication consisting of: 50% visual creation, 40% text, 10% advertisement (our ads being playful, a montage of the real and spoof). Mí: the pinyin of the Chinese character ¿, simply translated: 'to be crazy about' or 'to lose one's way'Mí is deeply rooted in our life - the combination of our daily exclamations, the advertisement equals the sale - mí is both an adjective and a verb. In preparation for our theme "fangirls" in this first issue, we tried to dissect the 'fan' and their 'mí' for you. In the first issue, we explored the inside look of a fan group, the Third-Wave Cyber-Nationalism and the Politicization of the New Media in China, the democratic election issues which are involved in 48g idols production, the data flow, the Alpha Beta Omega Dynamics's gender issue and the beautiful creative writing and art making. While also in the process of exploration, we got trapped in our own things and obsessions. It was a surprising, confusing, and at the same time, a satisfying journey. In the end, our answer is the magazine in your hand.