During my research for this project (which was, by the way, the most fun I’ve ever had researching — by far) I’ve discovered so many wonderful writers, scholars, documentary makers and podcasters, all musing about fangirls and fandom. So coming up are some recommendations from me to you!

I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story

This is an Australian-made film from 2018 focusing on the personal stories and experiences of four boy band fans. I loved it for a number of reasons. ⠀

First of all, the people featured represent multiple generations, cultures and gender identities. Second, the documentary gives them plenty of room to self-reflect and share what fandom has meant in their lives, without falling back on lame stereotypes. Following them for five years, it’s a deeper look at fangirling, while highlighting the pure joy of it as well. Third, the Take That fan featured is the coolest one of them all (as was to be expected — only partly kidding). ⠀

Seriously, I can highly recommend watching this film. It’s available on Vimeo to rent or buy. Please consider supporting the makers for shedding light on the topic of fangirls in such a loving and smart way!

Fansplaining

Made by journalist Elizabeth Minkel and researcher Flourish Klink, this is a multi-fandom podcast that dives deep into an array of topics around fan culture. Fan fiction, fan activism, fandom and race, the history of fangirling, etc — I find it all super fascinating. 

They have many interesting guests on as well. I especially enjoyed their episode with writer Zan Romanoff about her work, and the one with Keidra Chaney about Stan Culture, but there’s loads more that I want to go back and listen to. The discussions are intellectually stimulating AND highly entertaining. Please visit fansplaining.com to dive in!

Fangirls: Scenes from Modern Music Culture

This is a cultural history book finally giving due credit to female music fans. Author Hannah Ewens said of writing it: 

“I wanted to know more about what it meant to be a fan, to ask what they were doing, why they are doing it. I wanted to look with care away from the stars themselves towards the people who gave them any luminescent quality. Those people are, so frequently, teenage girls.”⠀

That is very much in the same vein as what I’m trying to achieve with this website, and I absolutely loved the book. To me, it clearly stands out among the reading I’ve done on the topic of fangirls. It goes that little bit deeper, into smaller subtopics like the phenomenon of queueing, the roots of the word ‘hysteria’ and whether fundamentalists specifically attacked an Ariana Grande show because the audience was teenage girls enjoying life. 

Ewens not only observes and talks about fangirls, she lets them speak too, in plenty of interviews which are transcribed verbatim. If you haven’t yet, go read this book!