Description
Sports cards are photographs with additional symbols. Demand for products like this has shown a substantial increase annually going back several years. Secondary economies have been forged through this steadily increasing demand. What makes each card valuable to each person depends on the photograph used, the symbols throughout the image, the material the card is printed on, and the condition of that material. A single sports card sold for $5.2 Million in 2021. Why would someone spend millions of dollars on a photograph when they could print one out to the same effect? What is it about these items that draws collectors, fans, and entrepreneurs? There must be meaning within the card. This meaning is likely conveyed through imagery. Sports cards are photographs that convey a narrative of an event and/or a subject. They are distributed on a massive scale, which allows it to be considered mass media or mass communication. Images are signs, and the communication of signs is semiotics. We attach mythology to signs that weave history and story into the meaning of those images. Being able to attach oneself emotionally to an image fosters meaning through narration. We tell stories and connect to stories from other people through a narrative paradigm. Some stories are better than others, which would explain the popularity of certain narratives over other equally great accomplishments. Framing is important. How the image is produced and distributed can change how the consumer views it, or how the narrative is presented. Using textual analysis will allow me to be flexible and apply the three theories mentioned above to provide a foundation for additional research relating to this field. Basically, using a textual analysis and identifying the core of what cards like this represent opens the doors to similar items being examined. Using these three theories should provide a good foundation that maps out what a sports card is through the eyes of the audience. Several searches for peer-reviewed articles gave minimal information on sports cards in general. This includes searching for thesis and dissertations. This is a completely underrepresented field of research.
