Visual Narratives in Play: Analysing Cultural Representation of India in Board Games

Abstract

As visual narratives, board games offer a unique lens through which to explore cultural representation and their implicit messages. While board games, from Chess to Pachisi, have been part of ancient Indian culture, the present study examines the representation of India in contemporary board games. Despite the prevalence of digital games, board games are an essential part of popular culture in various societies. The visuals and narratives in these games have the potential to influence perceptions. This research places these tabletop games based on India as a subject of analysis within the ambit of Culture Studies and Game Studies. We will first briefly discuss the theoretical framework guiding our study, followed by the methodology. Then, we will share some of the key findings.