Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:57 — 36.2MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Blubrry | RSS
Welcome back to season two of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast! In the season premiere episode, host Jenna Wrenn spoke with professor and research assistant at Germany’s University of Kassel, Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier.
The “Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast” is a new series from the team at the Temple of Geek. Portrait of a Fangirl initially began as a web series and has now expanded into a podcast series as well. You can watch and listen to the series both here and on our YouTube channel.
Hosted by Jenna Wrenn, at the core of the project is the importance of telling the stories of women who have found inspiration, growth, and power through fandom.
You can listen to the Portrait of a Fangirl Podcast directly on this page or stream it on Apple Podcasts / Google Podcast / iHeart Radio / Spotify and wherever you stream your podcast. You can even watch it on our YouTube channel. You can also find us on social media on Instagram and TikTok.
Being a fangirl looks different to each person. But what does being a fangirl within the boundaries of higher education look like? Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier took the time to talk to us and explain how fandom shaped her life and how she incorporates being a fangirl into higher education.
From a young age, Dr. Mittermeier was enthralled by her frequent family trips to Disney parks. That fascination would eventually translate to her research in graduate school which focused on popular culture.
Dr. Mittermeier obtained her Ph.D. in American Cultural History from the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and went on to publish A Cultural History of Disneyland Theme Parks – Middle-Class Kingdoms. According to Dr. Mittermeier’s university biography:
The book focuses on Disneylands in Anaheim, California (1955), Orlando, Florida (1971), Tokyo (1983), Paris (1992), Hong Kong (2005), and Shanghai (2016), situating them in the historical contexts at the time of their opening. It also sheds light on the influence of class on their (mis)success.
She has co-edited books relating to popular culture, including:
As a professor, Dr. Mittermeier teaches courses fit for a fangirl, with topics such as theme parks, film, and television, but with a historian’s twist, particularly, coursework focused on the 20th and 21st centuries, and how history helps us understand it these forms of media.
Her postdoctoral research project deals with “Unmade Queer Television in the US and West Germany.”
You can follow Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier on Instagram and Twitter. She also hosts a podcast called In Front of Ira, where she and her cohost discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether a movie is worth watching.
Jenna Wrenn is the host and executive producer of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast, as well as an entertainment correspondent for Temple of Geek. Jenna has conducted interviews with talent such as Max Brooks, Christopher Paolini, Rachel Smythe, and Ashley Eckstein and has written several articles for Temple of Geek covering conventions, anime, pop culture, and much more.
Jenna is a historian by trade, writer by passion, and cat mom by birthright. Jenna loves to travel, forging new connections, and cosplaying. She is excited to bring more fascinating interviews to viewers/listeners of the Portrait of a Fangirl podcast.
Temple of Geek's Who Review breaks down Dr. Who Season 1, Episode 3 "Boom" with…
Bridgerton fans debate whether Colin Bridgerton has truly redeemed himself enough to be worthy of…
Francesca Bridgerton takes center stage in season3 of Bridgerton and she possesses all the qualities…
As the Viscountess Bridgerton, Kate is already setting the fashion trend for the rest of…
Brace yourselves, Regency romance fans! The Temple of Geek Podcast is dissecting the juicy first…
HBO have released the first official images of The Last of Us season 2 and…