Hesburgh Libraries

Exhibit Overview

Money is a frequent source of anxiety and stress in our daily lives. How do we get it? How do we keep it? What do we do with it once we have it? Bank notes are fundamentally promissory notes that generate and structure interpersonal and social relations.

How does that affect our understanding of our own self-worth? Or the value we place on others and our relationships with them? We strive to make value but while doing so, we make inequality.

This exhibition aims to disrupt patrons’ preconceived attitudes toward money, wealth, and poverty. It examines various forms of antique and modern currency, and artistically displays anachronistic juxtapositions of historical and contemporary financial transactions, allegories, and portraits. As part of the experience, visitors will have an opportunity to play educational digital or board games that challenge assumptions of “fairness” both in the artificial environment of the gaming experience and in real life.

The Landlord Game

The Landlord Game is a free educational board game designed for students studying the economic dimensions of social justice. Created by Randal Harrison, Emerging Technologies Librarian at Hesburgh Libraries, this game aims to simulate modern day events and issues that result in discussion among players about social inequalities and injustice.

The goal is to inspire players to learn more about the impact money has on human society. Through meaningful discussion and reflection, players can better understand our current financial system and become motivated to explore alternatives to our contemporary capitalist structure.

Anyone interested in learning more about The Landlord Game or wishing to download it for educational use, please visit: randal-sean-harrison.github.io/landlord/index.html