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Hey there, I was looking for your honest opinions on my recent research essay. Please suggest any improvements, opinions, etc.
Are Games Art?
Are video games an art form? This question has been asked by many people over the years, and continues to lack a definite answer. Many say yes, although others, such as film critic Roger Ebert, are dead set on rejecting video games as any form of art. He has even gone on to say that video games "will never be an art form", and that "no video gamer now living will survive long enough to experience the medium as an art form (Ebert)." His opinion is obviously very radical, and many others will say that, even if video games are not an art form, some games could very well arrive at such a status in the near future.
While you may think that such a question is pointless, or makes no difference whether or not the question is answered, multitudes of others would disagree. Ian Bogost, Ph.D., a professor at Georgia Tech, says "It's an extremely simplistic question, but the spirit of it is worthwhile. In essence, we're asking 'What are video games capable of as a medium?' And that's a very good question to ask (Ochalla)." Denis Dyack also states the importance of the question, saying that "it gives the metrics as to where the mind set of the industry is (Ochalla)." The inattention to video games has a consequential effect on this multi-billion dollar industry. The fact that the question has not been raised lends to the assumption that it is not an art form.
To better understand the question, you must first grasp what art really is. Jaron Lanier believes that "Art happens when we reach for the very largest framework of our values, when we go beyond commercial concerns, or concerns about status or coolness, and reach for some level of meaning that just might transcend the problems we know how to articulate (Murphy)." Technically, art is (according to the Merrium-Webster Dictionary)" the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance." What art is more of a matter of opinion, though the most correct definitions have the same basic ideas.
A few games have, in my opinion, reached a level of art. They may not be "fine art", per say, but conform to at least the basic definition of art. One example is Halo, a multi-award winning science fiction shooter. The game has a single-player storyline which requires upwards of 20 hours to complete. The entertainment that is found in finally conquering a level, or in many cases, struggling through it, often comes from the reward of slowly unraveling the highly-incorporated narrative, complete with double-crossings, surprise character introductions, and its fair share of plot twists.
Another game worthy of recognition is Splinter Cell, in which you act as a secret government operative sent to infiltrate an enemy country. The game features a complex storyline, which I believe is worthy of literature, and elaborate lighting effects (complete with chiaroscura and meticulous shadowplay) and completely believable character movements.The lighting effects often act as an author's "voice" would in literature, and it provokes a heavy feeling of tension and danger throughout the play time.
When trying to conform video games in general as art, many views support them as art. Jesse Schell, an author and a instructor at Carnegie Mellon University, states that "like art, games can challenge and transform us (Murphy)." Others, such as Matt Peckham (an American journalist, critic, and columnist) think that calling some games art "is rightly amusing, not to mention insulting to the games themselves".
On the other hand, video games meld together many aspects of traditional art, such as text, sound, video, and imagery. Not only that, but "they uniquely tie these art forms together with interactivity," according to Dyack (Ochalla). Furthermore, when comparing video game to art, both are leisure persuits and are hubs of deeply engaged sub-cultures.
Some, such as the aforementioned Roger Ebert, argues that the competitive element of games makes them unable to be seen as art. He is partially correct, because frequently, competition is seen as adverse to an artistic creation due to that being the meaning for the creation in non-aesthetic goals (Smuts). The design of games may have a competitive atmosphere, but as Tom Bissel says, "The way games are designed is you create a story and then you create an obstacle course inside the story and the player has to endure it to see more (Jung)."
Even after all of these interpretations, some may smirk and boast "You still don't see video games hanging up in museums, now do you?" But, as a matter of fact, this has already occurred, most importantly in the Smithsonian, which defends its decision by saying "Video games use images, actions, and player participation to tell stories and engage their audiences. In the same way as film, animation, and performance, they can be considered a compelling and influential form of narrative art."
In essence, while obviously not all games can be considered art, some rise from the depths to continue to captivate us and grasp our attentions with a death grip. Those few games do not pander to the player, they feel more serious than most games, and have a complete, holistic feeling. Some of the more recent art-worthy games have storylines often more complex than most noir plots, each having the gameplay highly focused on the narrative. The potential of the medium is clear: good, if not great video game art is in the near future.