Brian Donovan

My new book project casts hero worship and parasocial relationships in a new light. The swiftie fandom functions as a “joy factory” and an imperfect haven from a troubling world. Swiftie: Anatomy of Fandom explains the pull of fandom, what people get from it, and why Taylor Swift is the most popular celebrity on the planet. Informed by a sociological perspective but written for anyone interested in American popular culture, the book uses the voices and stories of Taylor Swift fans to help explain the intensities and emotions at the heart of the swiftie fandom.

You can read a sample of my writing in this op-ed I wrote for MSNBC titled “How Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Transcended Pop Music.”

Questions? Please send them to me at bdonovan@ku.edu