Westworld season 1, Image courtesy of HBO
Piano
We’ve posited pieces representing entertainment, science, literature, and technology, but what about the arts? You could put forward a number of different piece ideas, like an easel or the drama masks, or perhaps a retro record player or a microphone or a pair of ballet shoes. But I favor the piano as an embodiment of arts and culture–it’s a familiar instrument that many of us tried and failed to play as children, its sound is everywhere from choral music to radio jams, and it’s instantly recognizable.
It’s too bad the guitar got out-voted awhile back, but since it lost to the cat, I can forgive it. Perhaps now that the cat is in the game, something musical will stand a chance as a playing piece in Monopoly. I can think of no better instrument deserving of the representation than the great and beautiful piano.