Introduction to the projects

Money isn't always just money

The practices discussed in the student projects described here range from the use of virtual currencies in online gaming worlds to the conjuncture of feng shui, real estate and property values in Irvine residential developments. From special, joyous occasions like a baby's baptism to the more mundane but magical allure of wishing wells, the research compiled here demonstrates that money isn't only a means of exchange, a method of payment, a store of wealth or a measure of value.

This project is a work in progress, and will grow as more research is conducted on the meanings and uses of money and money-like objects among the various groups that make a living and a life in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.