One of the most popular board games today originated within Europe many centuries ago. This game is played and enjoyed by people of all ages from every nation and creed, offering fun for kids and brain training for senior citizens. It is hosted in national tournaments and challenges the minds of all types of individuals from paupers to princes. The game..? You guessed it. Chess!
Even in the arts, literature and music, its popularity knows no bounds. The media lauds it, literature has featured it and it can be spotted in just about all the newspapers, books and articles (just like this one!) that you can care to mention. So powerful that its signature has become a figure of speech in the English language…checkmate.
The Media:
For ardent chess supporters, the volume of media material is awesome. Authors of “who dunnits” feature the game, using the mind game strategies, and sharp analysis used by chess gurus as a basis for story plots. The word ‘chess’ is used today in the same way that the word ‘free’ is used by offline and online marketers as a major “hook to snare the punters”.
It seems there is a James Bond type of romance, an ambience about the very name of the game! We find it used even in religion to depict the “God versus Devil – Good versus Evil” metaphors. It really is not surprising that its aficionados almost seem like rock fans!
Performing Arts:
Many players are enticed by the drama of the game; the players making a move, first one, and then the other. There is the nothing but sheer intensity for those involved in this dramatic show. The sovereign, shielded by all his subjects, all play an important role, which leads to the grand finale; to checkmate the opponent’s king.
Chess is portrayed through the medium of music and ballet and free form dancing. The dance moves and musical accompaniment depicts the game plans, and the battles take place as the game is played out on the board.
Arts:
Through all the arts, as well as printed and virtual media, as mentioned, we see references to this amazing game. Often the pieces, queens, bishops, knights and pawns are depicted in oil paintings, in stark black and white squares, against medieval backgrounds, flags, buntings and ladies and gentlemen bedecked in their finery surrounding the board, despite the fact that the game is played by just two people.
In the British Museum in London, there is a wonderful display of finely carved and beautifully artistic chess pieces made of ivory. These glorious pieces are so exquisitely carved, so detailed and so ancient that they are priceless. It is said that they were carved by artisans of the 7th century, from an area of Turkey.
There was a time when real ivory chess sets were almost as common as wood or porcelain, but today such sets are rare and worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. If you have one (check the attic) call your insurance company right away!
John Skelly is owner of Quality Chess.net, an online chess store where you can browse for a variety of chess products, so you can find that unique set of chessmen or elegant glass chess set you’ve been looking for.
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