I don’t know that the words curator and curious come from a common root word, but I’ve noticed that most curators—like inquisitive three-year-olds—persistently ask questions. Even curators who’ve done thorough research keep on asking questions about their subject matter. And that’s the way things should be because researchers, historians, and collectors uncover new information all the time.
The need for questions makes me think about the museum’s collection of so-called china dolls. To be more precise, these dolls have porcelain heads […]
Search by Category
Haute Couture Popping Up in Video Games
Coco Chanel said, “fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” I share Chanel’s sentiments. During the Roaring Twenties, women abandoned corsets and opted for bust-less, waist-less, knee-length dresses. Post-war culture of the 1940s embraced tiny waists, full skirts, and for that matter, full breasts. Punk culture in 1970s London responded to the economic crisis by filling the […]
Continue Reading about Haute Couture Popping Up in Video Games
Video Game Sing Along, Anyone?
It’s only natural that ICHEG be located in Rochester, a city with universities and colleges that attract students and academics from across the globe. One evening, while reminiscing with a few of them about childhood memories, a student from Portugal recalled the numerous occasions when he skipped religious studies to go to the arcade with change his mother had given him for an after-school snack. He would slip the coins into the slot of the Contra arcade game like he […]
Once Upon a Time…
These familiar words have been used, in some form, through centuries of storytelling. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that the phrase dates to at least 1380, while Wikipedia states that “it seems to have become a widely accepted convention for opening oral narratives by around 1600.”
For a long, long time then, these four words have led us, usually first and most often as children, into a tale about a beautiful place far, far away. Many a fable or folktale has […]
Who is Your Sailor Moon?
One of the most frequent questions I receive as a gamer is, “What kinds of games do you enjoy playing?” This question seems simplistic, but the answer is definitely not. I’ve given several different ones over the years, ranging from specific examples, such as Mario Bros., to broad genres, like puzzle games. As I get older, I realize my absolute favorite games are those that represent a connection to my personal life, especially games that take me back to a […]
Why are Casual Games so Compelling?
A century ago, the journalist, pastor, and social reformer Lyman Abbott wrote: “I frequently play solitaire as a brain rest, and I recommend the game to the brain-weary. In playing I have to study the relation of each card on the table to the other cards and take time to determine what my play shall be.”
Anyone who enjoys casual electronic games can identify with Abbott. Casual games engage us without overtaxing us. We line up stones in Bejeweled, help Flo […]
Which Came First, the Goose or the Egg?
Strong recently acquired a very rare and important board game—“The Jolly Game of Goose.” The game is printed on paper with old, yellowed tape on its folds. It is a prime candidate for intensive conservation (restoration) treatment. But why is it so important to the museum?
The game of goose is an ancient children’s game, possibly tracing its roots all the way back to an ancient Egyptian game called “Mehen,” which was played in early Old Kingdom times (2686–2134 BC). Later, […]
Continue Reading about Which Came First, the Goose or the Egg?
Serious Gaming is Serious Business
Tactical Language & Culture Training System from Mike Elgan
Two American soldiers stand guard on a street corner in a remote village as a Black Hawk helicopter circles overhead. Onlookers, many of them armed, gather. Additional soldiers arrive, and the situation deteriorates rapidly. Something must be done—quickly. You hold your breath and step forward to address the man who appears in charge.
Now, you might be speculating that I’m describing a scene from the hit game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. […]
I’d Like to Thank All the Little People®
My earliest (and fondest) memories of play involve none other than the Fisher-Price Little People®. Countless hours of my preschool years were spent sprawled on the living room floor, completely immersed in a fictitious world that I created and maintained. My little hybrid wood/plastic friends could be found scattered across carpets, stairs, and countertops. They were small enough to fit in my pockets so they could easily be transported from one location to the next.
I don’t think I ever identified […]
Continue Reading about I’d Like to Thank All the Little People®