I’ve made a bizarre observation: commemorative plates tend to be associated more with Star Trek or Star Wars more than other franchise (Stargate seems to have some, too.), and I kind of wonder why.
Obviously, they’re not actually that popular anymore and have faded into kitsch, as the only plate that seems to have come out since DS9/VOY era is the Lower Decks Tom Paris plate - there are no DSC, PIC, Kelvin, or even ENT plates, while newer Star Wars plates don’t seem all that common as well unless you want paper plates.
I’m wondering if it has to do with 2 factors, still somewhat true today but especially in the 1990s:
- Both Star Wars and Star Trek are decently large fan bases with large proportions of very passionate fans that are more likely to make purchases based on their fandom.
- Both tended to attract (and still do) an upper middle class to upper class demographic (Somehow, Bezos can call himself Trekkie 🤦♂️) with more disposable income to spend on collecting.
These would have made the plates commercially viable, meaning to both inside and outside observers, plates became a stereotype of the fandoms.
Anyhow, what are your thoughts?
P.S. Wow, this is starting to feel like a meta version of Daystrom.
Q: Look at me when I'm eating off you Picard.
But to your point, are there any fandoms (besides the church) that are still going strong with commemorative plates? Maybe they are just old fashioned.
That might me it - when I search older media, say The Andy Griffith show, sure enough there are a crap ton of plates.
It might be a sort of Venn diagram thing - Trek/Wars plates came at the dusk of the commemorative plate era, while the fans were more likely than others to buy collectibles like plates, making them seem unique from other fandoms.
After a dip I to that rabbit hole, perhaps I spoke too quickly...
Okay those are pretty dope though, come on.