Abstract

This research applies an ecological lens to examine how ‘media’ impacts both fantasy sport and the stock market through the translation of statistical data by way of new technologies. The core content offered rarely changes (e.g. sport statistics, stock market prices) but can be altered, so attention is on the medium itself and how it fits into the spectacle of consumption and becomes an extension of human consciousness. The conversion of on-field performance to numerical point values in the fantasy space created an analytical and gestured language, shifting emphasis from team performance to player performance and transforming players into numerical possessions to be acquired, manipulated, and potentially sold or transferred. The Internet provided an asynchronous and interactive application that signaled a demassification of relevant information and created a centralized ‘global village’ of fantasy sport participation. In this process of relinquishing control, the fantasy sport participant is commodified in a statistical space through the consuming of information. The statistical language at the root of fantasy sport tapped a deep well of information once tangibly useless to sport fans, and through its manipulation and analytical conversion created a socially-meaningful industry.

摘要

本研究运用生态学视角，通过新技术转换统计数据，研究“媒体”如何影响奇幻体育和股票市场。提供的核心内容很少改变（例如体育统计、股票市场价格）但可以改变，因此关注媒体本身以及它如何融入消费景观并成为人类意识的延伸。将场上表现转换为幻想空间中的数值点值创造了一种分析性和手势语言，将重点从团队表现转移到球员表现，并将球员转变为可被收购、操纵和可能出售或转让的数字资产。互联网提供了一个异步和交互的应用程序，标志着相关信息的去大众化，并创建了一个集中的梦幻体育参与“地球村”。在这个放弃控制的过程中，幻想体育参与者通过信息消费在统计空间中被商品化。幻想体育根源的统计语言挖掘了曾经对体育迷来说毫无用处的深井信息，并通过其操纵和分析转换创造了一个具有社会意义的行业。