Bruce Springsteen’s women fans and the deep significance of creative works: meaning, identity, support, and relationships

Works of art can be extremely meaningful and important to people, and perhaps even more so when people consider themselves fans of a particular artist. In this paper, some of the thoughts and feelings of women fans of Bruce Springsteen are described and discussed, based on two large surveys of the fans. Some of the themes that emerged from the first survey are the relationship women have with Springsteen and his work, the meaning his work has for them, the ways in which his work has been helpful to them, the community of fans that exists, and the loss of longtime band member Clarence Clemons. Themes from the second survey include Springsteen's legacy, and the ongoing community, especially through the Covid pandemic. The importance of art, in this case, music, for people is emphasized, and suggestions for how psychology can become more involved in the intersection of art and personal growth, identity, well-being, and relationships are offered.