Sunday, April 25, 2010
Autographs
What is it that we think we own when we get someone's autograph? Understandably if that autograph is on a guitar or book, we own that which it is on, but that is not what we put value in. Does it link us to the individual who wrote the name? and what does this add to our lives, I mean the achievements for which we admire the person do not change if we get their autograph, but how does our life change by owning their name on something?
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I think it's more of a physical representation of "Hey, I met that person!" That's how I see them, anyway. For example, I have a book autographed by the author and a magazine autographed by some of the members of TAPS (from Ghost Hunters); these are just things I would look at or show people and say, "Oh yeah, I met this guy/these guys once." Autographs add value to the items for collectors of such things, too. For example, I own a Transformers movie poster signed by Peter Cullen (the voice of Optimus Prime). He only signed a few of these posters, and I saw a couple on eBay sell for $800+. Normally they're worth about $20. I guess it's the value people choose to place on them that really matters.
ReplyDeleteI've never particularly seen the appeal, but many people are thrilled to have a connection to someone they deem famous or important. The late paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote movingly about a calling card he had encountered that seemed to have belonged to Charles Darwin, amazed at this near handshake with the master. (Upon closer reading the card actually belonged to Mrs. Darwin. Still pretty close.)
ReplyDeleteMy father studied with a man whose grandfather remembered the battle of Lexington (the math checks out, actually). This puts me only five removes from the American Revolution, which I guess is kind of remarkable after all.
In line with Keane's thinking about gifts, remember that something need not be an object to be property -- in fact, the object may only be a symbol of the idea, or relationship, that is the actual ownership...
In response to what you said Nick, is there any value in the autograph if you just paid for it? Some people pay in excess to own something that a celebrity scribbled on, as you noted, but what's the point of shelling out $1000 if it doesn't mean you actually met the person?
ReplyDeleteAlso, celebrities who charge their fans money for their autographs have an odd narcissistic sense of self-worth. In the end, they're just scribbles. Of course, this might change if the person signing the document was significant - like Jesus. People put an enormous value on Jesus - even I do, and I'm not religious! - and I think given who he is, it may not be irrational for someone to pay a ridiculous sum of money just to possess his hand-writing.