Harry Styles

Fandoms can be spaces where young people develop important transferable creative skills. These skills have positive flow-on effects into other areas of ...

Pop musicians such as Styles have predominantly female audiences, and cultural products associated with girls are [frequently looked down upon](https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/9677922/PrepubPID12178.pdf). [have been recognized](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277597873_Everything_I_Need_To_Know_I_Learned_from_Fandom_How_Existing_Social_Norms_Can_Help_Shape_the_Next_Generation_of_User-Generated_Content)as early adopters of the internet. Their ability to jump onto new platforms [has been referred to as](https://blogs.city.ac.uk/ludiprice/2021/02/19/fan-literacy-on-my-conversation-with-dr-matt-finch/)“fan literacy”. On the popular fan fiction site [Wattpad](https://www.wattpad.com/search/harry%20styles), there are more than 270,000 stories under the tag “Harry Styles”, some which have attracted millions of readers. While perceptions of female fans are shifting, these overarching stereotypes mean fangirls are often dismissed as obsessive or juvenile. [relationship between creativity and fandom](https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203114339) isn’t new. "By trying out so much in Photoshop for fandom edits, I learnt a lot and was able to express myself and experiment freely. The accumulation of these skills was helpful in preparing them for the workplace. Fans are mastering video-editing skills to remix existing footage into fan edits, learning coding and web design to customize fan sites, and creating [organized marketing campaigns](https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877909337857) to promote their idols’ music and help them win awards. The shared sense of belonging creates a safe space where fans feel comfortable to experiment with their work. Inspired by Styles’ own love of fashion, it’s become customary to dress up for Love On Tour. A fandom is essentially a group of like-minded people coming together over a shared interest.