We are pleased to announce our new Think and Die Thinking website!

We have been working hard and are currently focused on a couple programs this summer and are excited to share them.

Check out updates about Summer of Discontent, AMP (youth arts and music program), the fest and other events!  

Big thanks to Mai Oseto for helping us put this beautiful page together and the endless inspiration from the youth, friends and the marginalized communities we are a part of and support!

We are happy to announce SUMMER OF DISCONTENT 2!

SUMMER OF DISCONTENT is a 3 month long event, collaboratively organized by four San Jose groups: Think and Die Thinking, Silicon Valley De-Bug, My Dungeon Shook, and Cheers from the Wasteland. It was originally created in 2014 as an experiment in kick-starting some creativity and making space for people who might not always feel they get to be creative. It serves to document our experiences and record our collective histories, through self-publishing. The project stretches from the beginning of summer (May) till the end of summer (August). Participants create a new zine or zines over the period of the summer. Zines content and style is completely up to you! PERSONAL WRITING, PHOTOS, COMICS, FOOD, HOW TO and everything in-between. We have events scheduled through the summer along with check ins and provide support with layout, printing and ideas!

At the end of summer we will be holding A ZINE RELEASE event where participants will receive 10 brand new zines from other participants as well as a chance to table and share their own! There will be food and tables from current local groups and zine-makers.

If you’d like to participate in this project, we ask for a small commitment and to sign-up at the link below: http://www.cheersfromthewasteland.com/summer-of-discontent-2016.html

What is a zine?: Short for MAGAZINE or Fanzine. A zine is a do-it-yourself publication that can be made and shared by anyone! Self-Publishing has always been an integral tool to marginalized peoples history. In that tradition we want to encourage folks to take their desire to have their voice heard as a badge of commitment and that self-publishing is the way to control that voice. When the buildings continue to rise around us and it seems their shadows weigh us down, it is important that we share the light within us all, as a reminder that the sun is still there.

FB EVENT-

We want to take a moment and let it last forever. Our dear friend Erica Botz passed yesterday:

It is unthinkable and devastating that you are no longer here with us, Erica, but we will honor your memory. You were a very big part of Think and Die Thinking, a supportive, loving, caring friend and always listened, always came through with a sweetness that can never be forgotten. Everyone felt that, it was unmistakable.

We extend love and compassion to your family and closest friends today and we will never forget you. We hold space for those who are hurting and will try our hardest to offer what we can to ease the pain.

You are, were and forever will be an integral part of the communities and friendships we all helped build, you offered yourself so honestly and you built and created alongside us. Your presence can never be substituted. You will always be an essential spirit to Think and Die Thinking and we hope to carry your memory with everything we continue to do.

The first issue of Cheers from the Wasteland: an Online Journal specific to San Jose is out in the world, with words, images, and sounds from 10 fine contributors with San Jose ties.

www.cheersfromthewasteland.com

Here is a video of the Panel Discussion "Marginalized Identities and the Current Climate of Punk from Multiple Perpectives" at Think and Die Thinking 2015.  We are happy to have this documented and for it to be of our continued effort to record the collective histories of marginalized peoples in the south bay and beyond!  Thanks to those who participated and to Zev for recording this. 

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THIS WAS AT THINK AND DIE THINKING 2015

Marginalized Identities and the Current Climate of Punk: A Multi-Perspective Discussion

We often do not get a chance to discuss and share the climate of punk and activism in the places we are all from, here is our chance to do that in real life. In this discussion, we will be observing how punk is seen currently through multiple viewpoints and how it is defined behind these lenses.

How do our identities directly effect the climate of our communities? Let's share our definitions of punk, activism and art from where we stand. Punk scenes often differ even when existing alongside one another. How do they differ and how can we connect with one another through those differences?

How do these definitions take their present shape in punk where you are from? Let's discuss community needs and how punk fits and provides for those needs.

How does punk provide a unique space for marginalized identities and what are some real ways active contributors are pushing for more of that space? We will provide a panel comprised of folks working in different ways within their punk communities to instill tangible social change on a DIY level.

PANEL MEMBERS INCLUDE:

Ari Perezdiez- Bad Bitches Workshop, Stay Brown Stay Down, La Bola de Cristal zine, Maximum Rocknroll

Arturo Trejo- Colonia

Rich Gutierrez- Think and Die Thinking, Permanent Ruin, Busted Outlook, Boy Seeking Pain Zine

Grace Ambrose- Maxium Rock n Roll fanzine

Victoria M Ruiz- Downtown Boys, The Spark Mag, Malportado Kids

Think and Die Thinking 2015

ERFAN MORADI filmed the whole weekend, he wrote this out

“now that the festivities are over, i just had a few announcements + things to say!

first of all, humongous thank you and shoutout to all of, but not limited to, the following: the organizers, bands, artists, tablers, attendees, zinesters, people who traveled from far away or just down the street, people who hung outside and smoked (or didn't), the billy de frank center, everyone who spoke today or at all on the open mic, and all of the people who made think and die thinking 2015 an amazing memory and experience.

second. i was the one running around w/ setting up my camera and standing on everyone's toes and cutting in front of y'all in the crowd, sorry about that! i got videos of every single artist/bands set, i'm pretty sure. i'll slowly start uploading all of the videos soon and post them all here once they're done. i've got some 70 gigs of videos to upload, so please be patient.

unfortunately, however, i came pretty unprepared and had many technical difficulties throughout the process. this weekend i learned that cameras can apparently overheat or randomly stop recording exactly 23:06 into every set every time. my camera stopped working so many times, especially when i had stepped away, so i wanted to apologize A LOT to all of the bands whose sets got cut off. sorry!!! i recognize that this is a really big memory for y'all and i very much dropped the ball on helping commemorate that. still, i hope that whatever videos came out can help y'all revisit memories of tadt 2k15.