Fangirling, A history

This may seem like a very long-winded explanation of how I got onto this topic but, please, bear with me.

I was reading this Rookie article yesterday and I watched the video attached. It's a fan-video of most Brat Pack movies to the song Lisztomania by Phoenix. I personally love Phoenix (they wrote 1901and Long Distance Call), so I naturally bought the song on iTunes. After listening to it a couple more times, I started to wonder what 'Lisztomania' actually was. But with trusty Google at my side, I searched Lisztomania and it turned out to be right in my area of expertise; fangirling.

Franz Liszt was a piano virtuoso in the 19th century and 'Lisztomania' as it was officially coined by Heinrich Heine in 1844. Characterised by a hysterical reaction to Liszt and his concerts (standard practice for many fangirls these days), admirers would 'swarm over him, fighting over his gloves and handkerchiefs', wear brooches of his portrait and try to get locks of his hair. I believe this to be the first mass amounts of fangirling.  

After this, there was nothing that cause as much of a fan frenzy until Beatlemania in the 1960s. Paul, John, George and Ringo caused mass hysteria all over the world during the early years of their success. Their gaining of "Superstar" status came in 1963 with the release of 'She Loves You'. Beatlemania is still felt in the music industry today as the transatlantic journey of Beatles fangirling started a phenomenon known as the 'British Invasion' that was a major change in US attitudes to pop music.

And now, we fangirl on all types of things. SPN, Sherlock, Harry Potter and Doctor Who, just to name a few. Books, TV shows, films, bands, everything. 

What ever your chosen medium, let your fangirl flag fly!

Keep Dorking On,
A x