Why the Ouija board became so famous

This is where Ouija boards came from. And it might surprise you.

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In this episode of Overrated, Vox’s Phil Edwards explores what Ouija means, from a historical and cultural perspective.

The Ouija game and Ouija movies permeate our culture. But their origin might be surprising. Before this board game was a staple, it emerged from the spiritualist movement in the United States in the mid-1800s and an aggressive entrepreneur who believed he could make a buck off of it.

Ouija’s overrated — it’s not real and it’s just a piece of cardboard. But it's also a way for people from the past to speak to us (through history, at least).

Overrated is a series that takes a look at the things we all know — the books, the trends, and the ideas that have become iconic — and answers the question: “Why is this so famous"?

Watch the more Overrated videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSVlSmZWzm0&list=PLJ8cMiYb3G5elLvDjph8cAd91weWxBfyN

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