'Fangirl' by Hannah Ewens

Following on from our trip to the BFI in January, I became particularly interested in the work of music journalist Hannah Ewens, more specifically her book 'Fangirl'. Released in 2019, the book delves into the modern world of music fandom through the eyes of girls and women. Chapters with titles ranging from ''We Are The media': Inside the Hive Mind', a clear reference to Beyonce, to 'Witches Always Live Through This: Courtney Love's Older Fangirls' explore a whole host of themes and different music artists.  She also references the work of countless other scholars and those who have published commentary relating to fan studies. Some of these include Henry Jenkins, Lori Morimoto and Allyson Gross, who have all contributed different ideas about modern fandom. Ewens also takes the opportunity to cover some more heavy topics, writing at length about the Manchester attack and the death of Amy Winehouse. At the forefront of both of these chapters remains the fans and their individual experiences - ranging from young girls who were personally affected by the horrific events which took place at their first ever concert, to middle aged women who had struggled through addictions alongside Amy herself. It is clear in the way Ewens writes that she understands the importance of fans, often hinting at her own experiences as one. She therefore ensures that the voices of these women are at the heart of the book through countless interviews, a constant reminder of what is most important in this discussion. I found the book to be very intriguing from start to finish; Ewens perspective felt fresh and relatable, yet also well thought-out and knowledgeable. She was able to write about fans in such a way that was professional without ever risking becoming informal, or worse, patronising. The book spoke to me as a young female fan of music, I saw myself in many of the pages and felt seen by her personal anecdotes. 'For every girl who has ever had an obsession' reads the epigraph, which perfectly encapsulates the essence of 'Fangirl'.

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