This dissertation dissects the current state of sport in society as manifested through an increasing number of material manifestations created in the late capitalist moment. These objects, namely sports memorabilia and other assorted products, have left an indelible mark on culture by virtue of their attempts to encapsulate presence, dictate levels of fandom, and commemorate collective public memory. In all, the dissertation uses four case studies to examine these consequences, beginning with the emplacement of a private memorabilia collection in a professional baseball stadium, a situation beset by the personal nature of collection and the team's goal to maximize capital in the new stadium. The next case study explores the commodification of sports memorabilia, epitomized by huge profits realized from the sale of authentic, game-used dirt, used in an attempt to re-establish industry credibility in the wake of massive fraud and draw in consumers at a variety of price points. The third case study is a rhetorical investigation of the material significance of retro ' or throwback ' jerseys, a fashion trend from the early 21st century that has become a standard part of the commercial offerings of professional sports teams. Concentrating on one professional franchise's attempt to resurrect its history in material form, this chapter argues that while some jerseys retain the symbolic power of the teams and players they channel, others fall short as a result of contextual factors that surround the commemoration. Finally, the last case study is focuses on attempts by sports fans to create their own merchandise, thus activating their individual creativities and operating against hypermasculine gender stereotypes in sports. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2011. / May 11, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references. / Davis W. Houck, Professor Directing Dissertation; Leigh H. Edwards, University Representative; Jennifer Proffitt, Committee Member; Arthur A. Raney, Committee Member; Michael D. Giardina, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_183605 |
| Contributors | Andon, Stephen Patrick (authoraut), Houck, Davis W. (professor directing dissertation), Edwards, Leigh H. (university representative), Proffitt, Jennifer (committee member), Raney, Arthur A. (committee member), Giardina, Michael D. (committee member), School of Communication (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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