Remarkable research from the School of Experimental Social Science reveals that the much-loved game of Snakes and Ladders was created by a humble window cleaner, Murk E. Payne Esq. in 1945 as a means of overcoming the bad imagery of the ladder created by housewives in 1930's. As Professor Mihgeked explains, Housewives disseminated the idea that walking under ladders would bring the under-ladder walker certain ill-fortune and woe - the economic impact of this was that fewer people wanted their windows cleaned - they just didn't want to increase the risk of walking under ladders, and this hit the window-cleaning business hard. Murk E. Payne Esquire, who had been bitten by a snake on a field trip to South Africa, did not find it difficult to identify what might be a more concrete and altogether worse risk - the mighty snake. And the game of snakes and ladders was his way of giving the ladder (and indeed, by extension, the window cleaner) a really positive counter-image. And it worked: following the publication of the game of Snakes and Ladders, window cleaners experienced a 2000% increase in demand for window cleaning.This is but one insight into the fascinating research findings of Professor Mihgeked's exploration into the history, economics and sociology of Children's Games. His research findings are to be found in his best-selling book, Games we Play, and Why we Play them (Perky Press, 2008) . This is currently available in bookshops across the UK and is retailing at £20.00.
Thursday 8 May 2008
Window Cleaner Propoganda 1940
Remarkable research from the School of Experimental Social Science reveals that the much-loved game of Snakes and Ladders was created by a humble window cleaner, Murk E. Payne Esq. in 1945 as a means of overcoming the bad imagery of the ladder created by housewives in 1930's. As Professor Mihgeked explains, Housewives disseminated the idea that walking under ladders would bring the under-ladder walker certain ill-fortune and woe - the economic impact of this was that fewer people wanted their windows cleaned - they just didn't want to increase the risk of walking under ladders, and this hit the window-cleaning business hard. Murk E. Payne Esquire, who had been bitten by a snake on a field trip to South Africa, did not find it difficult to identify what might be a more concrete and altogether worse risk - the mighty snake. And the game of snakes and ladders was his way of giving the ladder (and indeed, by extension, the window cleaner) a really positive counter-image. And it worked: following the publication of the game of Snakes and Ladders, window cleaners experienced a 2000% increase in demand for window cleaning.This is but one insight into the fascinating research findings of Professor Mihgeked's exploration into the history, economics and sociology of Children's Games. His research findings are to be found in his best-selling book, Games we Play, and Why we Play them (Perky Press, 2008) . This is currently available in bookshops across the UK and is retailing at £20.00.
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