Colleen Sharpe: International Center. wrote:
>
> Hello, I am writing on behalf of my class group.  We are trying to develop
> an exhibit proposal for "Money."
>
> We have many good ideas, but have been stumped nailing down a sub theme.
> We have all sorts of concepts listed such as; money in games, money in
> popular culture, money and banks, money and form (can you have money with
> out form?) money as barter, and others.
>
> All five of us have written individual concept reoprts for an exhibit,
> the problem is consolodating and reworking everything.
>
> I think right now our problem is nailing down this sub theme. We need that
> one idea and question that can blend all our ideas.
>
> What we're stuck on is what kind of a thing is a sub theme. We keep coming
> up with ideas and they never seem to be "it."
>
> Could anyone offer any advice as to what a sub theme should be, and maybe
> examples from other shows about themes and sub themes.
>
> I think we've all been a little to close to it to focus.
>
> Your input is greatly anticipated
>
> thank you
> Colleen Sharpe


Colleen,

Perhaps what you are really looking for isn't a sub-theme but something
more basic.  Having some training as a structural functionalist, may I
suggest that everything that you have considered so far could be
discussed under the "purpose" of money, or the "uses" of money, or
another way of looking at how money impacts our culture.

Could you describe how our society would function without money?

Could you describe what our society would look like if the concept of
money had never been developed?

Could you describe a culture where money does not play the same role
that it does in our culture?

On the other hand, could you describe the value of money?  (Does the
paper that dollar bills are printed on have any intrinsic value?
Coins?  Gold?  Trade beads?)

So, what cultural need drives the development of a money system?

Of course you could always ask a Wall Street analyst or an economist
about money, but I think you'd be better off not.

Good Luck with your project.  I hope you get lots of responses from the
list.  It should be very interesting.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Ginny Cass
President, Board of Directors
Northern Rockies Heritage Center
P. O. Box 1884
Missoula, MT  59806-1884
phone 406-728-3662 (message)
fax 406-728-5963
email [log in to unmask]
http://www.nrhc.org