Before video games became the center of family entertainment, a Monopoly board could occupy a dining-room table for an entire evening.
The little race car was never simply a playing piece. It was part of the ritual of gathering around the table, negotiating properties, counting money, arguing over rules, and hoping for one more roll of the dice.
American Material Memory often lives in objects that were present during ordinary family moments. The Monopoly race car carries memories of siblings, parents, grandparents, rainy afternoons, holidays, and evenings when entertainment required nothing more than a game, a table, and people willing to play.
From the Artist:
When we were kids, we’d actually play Monopoly instead of watching our family’s 19-inch, black and white TV. The one that got “three” main channels, ABC, CBS, and NBC. And depending on how the hanger and tinfoil were arranged on the antenna, we might get UHF channel 50.
Those were our TV channel choices.
But Monopoly, provided a world of entertainment. I remember playing for a couple of hours every game.
I also remember my favorite game piece was the race car. I usually got stuck with the iron though. I have no idea why. That’s just how it seemed to turn out.
I guess, this was the first car I ever really wanted. Maybe not getting it was sort of a precursor, a destiny or glimpse of fate that I’d never get the car I really wanted. Hahaha.
Before video games became the center of family entertainment, a Monopoly board could occupy a dining-room table for an entire evening.
The little race car was never simply a playing piece. It was part of the ritual of gathering around the table, negotiating properties, counting money, arguing over rules, and hoping for one more roll of the dice.
American Material Memory often lives in objects that were present during ordinary family moments. The Monopoly race car carries memories of siblings, parents, grandparents, rainy afternoons, holidays, and evenings when entertainment required nothing more than a game, a table, and people willing to play.
From the Artist:
When we were kids, we’d actually play Monopoly instead of watching our family’s 19-inch, black and white TV. The one that got “three” main channels, ABC, CBS, and NBC. And depending on how the hanger and tinfoil were arranged on the antenna, we might get UHF channel 50.
Those were our TV channel choices.
But Monopoly, provided a world of entertainment. I remember playing for a couple of hours every game.
I also remember my favorite game piece was the race car. I usually got stuck with the iron though. I have no idea why. That’s just how it seemed to turn out.
I guess, this was the first car I ever really wanted. Maybe not getting it was sort of a precursor, a destiny or glimpse of fate that I’d never get the car I really wanted. Hahaha.
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