On Being a Fangirl

 Have you ever loved something so much it hurts? As corny as it sounds, I definitely have. I've been a fangirl my whole life, it may be one of the only things I'm naturally talented at. It can be embarrassing at times, like really really embarrassing. But I think there's also a certain beauty to being excited about things you have no control of, a joy in waking up knowing there's new media to consume centering on your fixation. You may have guessed it already, but apart from musical theatre, another slow fixation has been creeping up onto me (IT'S NOT INVASION IF YOU WERE WONDERING), and while I don't want to discuss that here (wow look at me trying to stay on topic), it has gotten me back to thinking about the joys of being a fangirl, with it's epics highs and lows.

I've been pondering what the stages of fangirling are, and how it feels to move from one obsession to another. I have finally created what I believe are the stages that I go through every time I develop a new fascination. 

1. Discovery: There would be no stages if there was no discovery. I find that in this stage, I'm always very ambivalent to what will soon become the object of my obsession. With musicals, I actually disliked Hamilton when I first discovered it, finding LMMs voice rather grating. And yet it is this step that sets the scene for everything to come. 

2. Rediscovery: With almost everything I enjoy, I tend to forget about it. Sometimes this can be for a day or two, sometimes it can even be for a month. However, one thing stays consistent, I will always forget about it and then come back to it by watching a YouTube video related to it. 

3. Denial: This is where the denial starts to sink in, where I start saying things like "Yeah okay Hamilton is good and all but I'm not a musical faan per se". It's always a lie and it's always my first sign of the impending dread. 

4. RESEARCH: This stage is all about immersing myself in all the information I can find, desperate to not be outed as a "new fan"

5. Joining fanbases: I start posting on tumblr, telling all my friends, and bothering my parents with endless yapping about my new interest. 

6. Changing profile pictures: This is the one that really solidifies interests for me, if I change a profile picture I am in love. I know I said I wouldn't get into it, but my tumblr profile picture shifting from a broadway sign to a picture of Sebastian Vettel says it all. 


Writing this blog has been such a wonderful experience for me, but unfortunately, I'm starting to accept that the musical theatre phase is coming to a close. I know that I'm always going to love musicals a lot more than the average person, and will definitely still go rabid over my favorite shows. I'm also planning to see every single west end show if I end up going to London. 

Oh right, I haven't told you guys about London. Well dear reader, in the time it's taken since I started this blog, I somehow managed to complete my entire DP journey. I turned 17, applied to colleges, got into some of my dream schools, and am now preparing for the home stretch. 

I got accepted into Kings College London, which has been my dream since I was 15. While it is a conditional, I've been hard at work to ensure that I meet my required score and can make my dreams come true. 

This may be goodbye for now, but I'll never forget how this blog was a creative outlet for me. My nonexistent readers kept me going through everything. 

Above everything, what makes me sad is how much I've grown up. From writing my first post about a musical that I adored in tenth grade to typing in a classroom only one day before graduation, I can't believe I've come so far. 

You've found your heart and left a part of you behind. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Slime Tutorials!!

 As a fan of musical theatre, I've watched a fair few slime tutorials. For those not in the know, slime tutorials are the term used for bootlegs, videos of Broadway shows filmed discretely from the audience. This term is used so that people can find it without YouTube flagging it as illegal. These unofficial recordings often spark passionate debates online. Some call them disrespectful, others say they're lifelines. I would say it's a mix of both, and while they are complicated, they are far from evil.  Let me be clear: I’m not saying we should encourage illegal recordings. I understand the concerns from performers, creators, and producers. Bootlegs can bypass copyright laws, violate performers' privacy, and undermine the integrity of a live experience. But here’s where the conversation gets murky, we treat the viewers of bootlegs as villains, when in reality, many of them are just passionate fans who lack access. Musical theatre, as it currently exists, is painfully ex...
Read more

The History of Musical Theatre

Image
 I spent DAYS of my life researching the history of musical theatre for a project last year only to condense it all into a small timeline. But you know what, I think it's time for all that work to shine.  When did musical theatre get started? Well it's not really a simple question, trust me I'm a nerd. The use of music and drama together dates back to ancient civilizations. Greek and Roman dramas often incorporated music and dance into their performances. Most medieval morality plays in Europe also included elements of music and spectacle. They were often set to church chants, with the intention of educating the audience on good Christian values. Meanwhile, in Renaissance Italy, the "commedia dell'arte" troupes presented improvised performances that combined music, dance, and comedy. Another possible source of inspiration for musical theatre is vaudeville shows. Vaudeville shows often featured dance numbers and musical acts Some stock characters from Commedia ...
Read more

The Main Figures in Musical Theatre

Image
 The first two (or three) main figures in musical theatre are Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein the second. Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern were known for popularizing modern musical theatre through show boat (1927). However, Hammerstein is much more known for his work with Rodgers, the two becoming an unstoppable duo. From the sound of music to Oklahoma, their work will forever be remembered. Any theatre student worth their salt will know Rodgers and Hammerstein (see left), and further nerds(me) will even know that Richard Rodgers(my third favorite theatre) has a theatre named after him on Broadway, cementing his legacy. Jerome Kern is also a legend in his own right, but due to him largely working on movie musicals, he is not remembered in live theatre as much.  ALW!! Andrew Lloyd Webber is another major figure, known for creating successful musicals. From Cats to the Phantom of the opera, he is known for writing long running shows. Phantom ran for the longest, closing ...
Read more