Join us for an engaging book talk with UCI faculty member Erica Espejo as she discusses her latest work on the significance of fandom as third spaces for marginalized communities. In this presentation, Erica will explore the evolution of fandom at the turn of the millennium, a time before the rise of streaming services and social media. She will delve into the concept of comfort media, focusing on feminist and girlhood imagery within shoujo and magical girl anime. This talk offers a glimpse into the growing popularity of anime fandom and convention culture, analyzing their impact as anime began to enter the mainstream and what this cultural shift meant for marginalized groups.
