It's not just a game
Playing Selected Modern Board Games as a Decolonising Tool in Museums Through Participatory Action Research
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5885169 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Izzy Bartley (0009-0008-5909-4976, University of Leeds, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 1-20 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Heritage Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1352-7258 • E-ISSN: 1470-3610 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13527258.2025.2557835 |
| OpenAlex | W4414254422 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 22 |
This paper traces an ongoing research project exploring the intersection between decolonising in museums and the modern board game industry, focusing on the iterative methodology employed. It begins by contextualising the board game industry and its (largely uncritical) use of colonial settings and themes, and the origin of public museums in Britain as places that fostered imperial nationhood. I describe how my professional experience in museum education and personal interest in board games led to the development of a participatory action research methodology involving me joining participants in playing selected board games in museum settings. The research argues that by this particular methodology, playing the selected games can contribute to knowledge construction around colonial histories and legacies, and crucially, these games can act as a tool to facilitate meaningful discussions around these histories and legacies, including museum practice, past and present. The reflexive and iterative nature of the research is discussed using an auto-ethnographic approach, including the unexpected value of the play experience for museum professionals pursuing decolonising work. Finally, I propose a wider role for play than currently employed in museum environments, including opportunities for adults to play, and through this play, engage in critical conversations about complex topics
Action research · Citizen journalism · On board · Participatory action research · Participatory design · Art Education and Development · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Museums and Cultural Heritage
Heritage, Memory and Identity in Postcolonial Board Games
Examining Board Gameplay and Learning
Repairing Play
Playing Oppression
The Privilege of Play
Board Games as Media
An Introduction to Game Studies
Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge
Collaborative games
Participatory Action Research Approaches and Methods
Museums and the construction of national identity
The Culture of Diplomacy
Deep hanging out in the arts
Kitchen Conversations
Participatory action research
The birth of the museum
Playing Subaltern
Board Games and the Construction of Cultural Memory
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |