jensjustafangirl

[jensjustafangirl]

The Parasocial Predicament: Chappell Roan, Celeb Boundaries, and What Fan Culture ISN'T

Yes, I know! you all missed me and my fangirl antics. But, after a short hiatus... I am here to get serious.

You may find that I’ve been a little preachy on the good there is in fandom (there is so much good, I'm not lying!). But you and I both know something that is good will always have a few bits and bobs that may not be so hot. So, let's discuss: My not so hot takes on fan culture.

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I recently came across a really interesting take on the whole Chappell Roan Drama. Now, I know not all of you readers out there have joined the Pink Pony Club and have gotten behind your favourite artist's favourite artist like me, so I’ll give you a run down on why the Midwest Princess is in hot water.

Back in August, Chappell posted a very intimate, very vulnerable TikTok to the public. In this video, Roan demanded for boundaries to be set around her fame, begging fans to understand that the celebrity persona we know as Chappell and love deeply and the woman she is in her private life are two different beings. She makes one thing clear: Chappell is all she owes us!

The video was met with an outpour of love and understanding, with many celebrities backing Roan for her confidence in the matter. However, like all things on the internet, it was also subject to a mound of hate. In an attempt to put the cancel culture cogs in motion, many online users took to bashing this her plea, trying to defame her for simply setting boundaries around her personal life.

Much like the Authors behind the news article I've read on the matter, the situation has made me question exactly what it is that fans expect celebrities to owe them… and where this expectation has come from?

For me, I think these massive expectations have stemmed from the explosion of Parasocial Relationships online. In a world plagued with a million Social Media platforms, it's easy for fans to find so many different idols, fictional characters, stories and influencers to get behind and form this one-sided love for. However, it is also extremely hard for these big names to even grasp an ounce of privacy when people are watching their every move online. Taking Chappell's situation as example, what us fangirls and guys may think of as love, can be so very emotionally overwhelming for the REAL, NORMAL people on the receiving end!

Now, time to put a quick end to my heated rant (I clearly can't take the online destruction of those I fangirl over)! This is NOT me bashing the essence of fan culture, having such a love an appreciation for what you are a fan of is what fan culture is!

After thinking of the situation with Chappell, the point I want to raise is what fan culture isn't. My own participation in fan culture is such a personal thing to me, it's a part of who I am. These idols that I have an intense appreciation for, like Chappell, have helped to mould me into the Jen I am today! But something I’ve learnt from all the celebrity scandals; influencer dramas and apology videos is this: It's great to be a fan of these stars! But the people behind those stars do NOT owe us anything when they're off the clock. When creating and entering fandoms around real people, who have their own lives outside of fame, it's so important to respect their boundaries. That is all Celebrities like Chappell are asking.

The bottom line: In the current discourse around what the people we are fans of owe us, the answer is nothing more than what they find comfortable. Fan culture is appreciation and basic human respect. And that is that! Now, can we all get back on the Chappell Roan appreciation train?!

[jensjustafangirl]

Fandom = Friendship: A Deep-Dive into what Fan Culture Truly Means

Three posts in under 24 hours! Making my mark as your new favourite Yapper. But it’s time to crack down and get technical. With all this talk from your new fangirl culture enthusiast… you might be wondering exactly what a fandom is. Well! Here’s a fresh new perspective, coming to you hot!

To give it to you plan and simple, Fandom is a community of individuals that share a common interest or devotion in a particular topic. These topics of interest can be extremely niche, going as narrow as communities devoted to a romantic pairing of characters from a franchise (which is an entire blog in itself).

The web has given members of fandom's an extremely accessible space to connect with others that share their passions. Fan groups span across multiple platforms online, using an abundance of social networking services to connect and share different information about their topic of interest. In fact, fans are even creating their own platforms to partake in fan culture together in a shared space. Take Fandom.com, an entire website devoted to connected fans and their favourite fandoms. From Wikipedia-like pages on games, TV shows and more, to blogs about the hottest fandoms in pop-culture, a website like this promotes a very vital aspect of fandom: Connectivity.

On that note, an important factor of fandom is that this connectivity I speak of does not exist solely between the fan and the topic of interest. Fan culture thrives on the connection between fans and, you guessed it, other fans! Take fandom projects, for example. Most of you pop guys and girlies out there would know of the Taylor Swift Friendship Bracelet Projects happening all throughout the extravagant eras tour. Although this bracelet trading phenomenon is already a sweet gesture at face value, it provides a beautiful example of the sense of community fandom brings. The sharing of passion for the same interest promotes a sense of belonging like no other and gives individuals the opportunity to connect with likeminded individuals in innovative and enjoyable ways!

This all brings me to my main point: Fandom = Friendship. Fan culture exists in the community that is built around these individuals favourite people, things and ideas. Whether it be in the form collaborating to gather information on your shared topic of interest, or innovating ways to feel a sense of belonging with those who share your passion... fandom is built on a culture of meaningful connection that is truly so important in this day in age where many people feel like such closeness is hard to achieve. So, I'll say it once more: where there is fandom, there is friendship.

[jensjustafangirl]

The Chronically Online Pipeline: an Ode to my (Fan)girlhood

“The recipe for the ultimate Fangirl”, you ask. Well, mix in some Intense passion, sprinkle a little unlimited internet access and throw in a tween who is SLIGHTLY lacking in the sense of belonging department…. I give you, the birth of a Fangirl.

Fandom is something that is most definitely not new to me. I have spent years not only consuming content from my idols or favourite franchises, but also the community that creates itself around these things. I've recently been thinking... Just how long ago was the fangirl in me born, and why is it so important to me?

We're going to have to go back for this one.... circa 2009. Times are tough (they're not), I am at the peak of my education (finger paintings and cookie making). Five-year-old Jen is desperately looking for an escape from her troubles (and a costume for book week!). Enter... the TinkerBell franchise. Name a piece of TinkerBell paraphernalia, I had it. There were back-to-back screenings of the films at my house. Heck! I thought the fairies were my best friends!

My mother always tells me how invested I was in the franchise, but also never fails to remind me that TinkerBell was more than that for little me. She recalls the glimmer in my eyes when I got to share this interest with others and find new friends through my favourite group of fairy girls. It was so important for me to share my love for the things I love with others. Little did I know, this was only the dawn of my adventures into fandom.

Oh, how it didn't stop there. Little miss TinkerBell got unlimited access to the internet on her first iPhone, and turned into a woman invested in countless pockets of unique pop-culture fandoms online. From Steven Universe, to BTS and most recently, Chappell Roan. I've been it all, your ultimate fangirl.

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Without getting too sappy, the culture behind fandom has changed my life trajectory. Fan-girlhood is a representation of how vital fandom has been to me, even in my early years. It has created friendships, stimulated my own innovation, boosted my confidence and allowed me to feel a sense of belonging that can't be captured in any other way. So, yeah! maybe, I've begun to describe one of the most chronically online pipelines to date in romanticising this fangirl lifestyle. But there is always going to be a fandom-shaped hole in my heart filled by the love of my little fangirl life!

[jensjustafangirl]

I Guess We Can Say.... Sixteenth Time's the Charm?

Welcome to my newest online endeavour! 

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I’m Jen, and if I had a dollar for every time I made a new platform to talk about a fandom that I love… maybe I’d just be able to invest in that dream mansion of mine! So, why not bring it all together and make something special?

This little internet diary will serve as a journey into my pop-culture infested brain, dissecting the things I’m a fan of, from idols to music, iconic moments and so on! Join me as I indulge in all my favourite topics and explore exactly what it means to be me - because, Hey! i’m just a fangirl!