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.
Oh COME ON now I have to buy these too??