Although we only touched on the ‘Book of Games’ briefly in class on Monday, it was one of the things I found most intriguing in class this week. Not only did it put into perspective the antiquity of some of the “classic” games we still play today, it also made me think that maybe we have not strayed that far from our ancestors even though so much time has passed. The act of playing games was clearly an essential human past-time, even at the time of the manuscript which dates to 1296. Can you imagine if the instruction manuals of our everyday boardgames looked as beautiful as an illuminated manuscript? I definitely would take the game far more seriously if a manual was adorned in a gorgeous glow. It would make me feel like I’m playing a game of worth with high stakes; an act not only of entertainment but importance. Maybe classic games should include a history section to enlighten players on the longevity of the simple game they are playing…
One thought on “Small Reflection on the Book of Games”
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You make some very good points here. I agree that these games take us back to our roots. I also find it interesting how, like you said, we still play these games today. It definitely speaks to the way in which we as humans find enjoyment. Even though so much has changed culturally, we are like our ancestors in the sense that the same games give us enjoyment. On the subject of the manuscript being a manual, it seems like to them it was almost the norm. Today, if a manuscript was a manual, it would definitely seem much more elegant. However, I think that our version of a manual – even if it is less grand and is much more common than a manuscript – is the equivalent to a manuscript for a manual.