ramblings of a professional fangirl
I am ecstatic to share that the journal article I wrote last year based on my thesis research has just been published in the peer-reviewed Wiley Journal of Popular Culture - Special Issue: "Exploring the Popular Culture and Tourism Place-making Nexus," Volume 52, Issue 6. This is my first full-fledged academic publication, and the entire … Continue reading “How David Bowie Fans Transformed Brixton After His Death”
Wow! The organization SUM Research, which highlights work coming out of the CUNY system, wrote a feature on me and my recent publication in honor of Bowie's birthday! Check it out here: https://sum.cuny.edu/david-bowie-brixton-party-birth-death-valerie-gritsch/
Four years ago last week, David Bowie died. The interview I did with my university, The Graduate Center, CUNY, about my research and publishing with the Journal of Popular Culture is now live!!! You can check it out at my school's website by clicking here!
Below you can find my slides and outline from the presentation I gave at the Fan Studies Network North America academic conference on October 25, 2019, at DePaul University, Chicago, IL in the Agency in Music Fandoms panel. This is part of my MA thesis research, that I am currently working on at the CUNY … Continue reading ‘Something Happened on the Day He Died’: How David Bowie Fans Transformed Brixton at FSNNA19
The Cross Bones Graveyard resides in London SE1, and dates back to medieval times. It is believed that up to 15,000 people are buried in the unconsecrated ground. Originally used as a graveyard for "single women" which was coded language for sex workers. They were known locally as "Winchester Geese," as they were licensed by … Continue reading Navigating No Man’s Land: The Graveyard of the Outcast Dead
On April 5th, 2019, I participated in the MALS Lightning Talks. This is an event for Masters students at the Graduate Center, CUNY to showcase their research in three minutes. I spoke about the fandom rituals that memorialize David Bowie in Brixton, his hometown in South London. Watch my speech above, or read the transcript … Continue reading Fan Rituals of Memorializing David Bowie
The main focus of my Masters research is dead celebrities and how fans react to their death and in memorializing them create and shape the narrative of that celebrity's legacy. One of the main celebrities I focus on is David Bowie, and specifically how people interact with him through his hometown of Brixton, a neighborhood … Continue reading Following David Bowie’s Life in Brixton
Valerie Gritsch 