The Myth of Innocent Play: Colonialism and Board Games
Title:
The Myth of Innocent Play: Colonialism and Board Games
Year:
2024
Original Order:
20523
Game:
TRD24ND267416
Short Description:
Using games from different historical periods, this talk considers how colonial myths are at play in representation, theme, goals and mechanics.
Long Description:
Board games have long held socio-cultural importance, and only in recent years has the community begun to unpack what were once considered neutral or innocent playthings. Increasingly, our innocent playthings reveal a darker side of play where a tendency towards colonial rationales, nationalistic fervor, and white supremacism have passed through the design of games. Revealing years of research that culminated in the 2023 book Playing Oppression, his talk will show how games have long acted as a form of enculturationthe process by which people learn the traditional dynamics, behaviors, worldviews, and values of a given society. Covering a four hundred year span, this talk will shed light on how enculturation in the West has operated in board games through representation, theme, mechanics, player positioning, and game goals, and will offer hopeful strategies on ways to avoid them.
Event Type:
TRD - Trade Day Event
Minimum Players:
4
Maximum Players:
80
Age Required:
Everyone (6+)
Experience Required:
None (You've never played before - rules will be taught)