Are video games art?
“I think everything is an art. Anything a human does has a potential
to express and they are all art. There is no difference between digital and traditional,
they are all just different technology that people invented to be expressive.”
- Jenova Chen, Game Designer
to express and they are all art. There is no difference between digital and traditional,
they are all just different technology that people invented to be expressive.”
- Jenova Chen, Game Designer
There is much debate between experts and average gamers alike whether video games are a valid form of art or not. Film critic Roger Ebert is most notably known amongst the video game community by stating in 2005 that “video games can be elegant, subtle, sophisticated, challenging and visually wonderful” but “the nature of the medium prevents it from moving beyond craftsmanship to the stature of art”.
Many responses were made to Ebert’s statement that games cannot be art, critic Clive Barker responded that “Ebert had a prejudiced vision of what the medium is, or more importantly what it can be.” While game designer Jenova Chen believes that anything that has been created by human choice with the purpose to be expressive can be art.
Video games are an experiential type of art, where the level of interactivity includes the viewer, evoking empathy and emotional responses. The sound design, visual art style, narrative and game mechanics all piece together to form an interactive narrative artwork.
Ben Reeves proposed that games could not be art because “interactivity inhibits the artist’s ability to convey an emotional message. In essence, the artist’s vision is lost if the audience has control over the experience.” However, that puts into contention whether interactive installations such as Lee Mingwei’s The Mending Project (2009) where the public can bring torn clothes to have repaired and kept as part of the installation throughout the duration of the exhibition. This argument also disproves Marina Abramović’s performance artwork The artist is present (2010) as art. In The artist is present, Abramović invites the public to take part in the work by sitting in a chair at a table opposite her and stare at her, often leading to strong emotionally moving experiences by viewers who participated in the work.
Many responses were made to Ebert’s statement that games cannot be art, critic Clive Barker responded that “Ebert had a prejudiced vision of what the medium is, or more importantly what it can be.” While game designer Jenova Chen believes that anything that has been created by human choice with the purpose to be expressive can be art.
Video games are an experiential type of art, where the level of interactivity includes the viewer, evoking empathy and emotional responses. The sound design, visual art style, narrative and game mechanics all piece together to form an interactive narrative artwork.
Ben Reeves proposed that games could not be art because “interactivity inhibits the artist’s ability to convey an emotional message. In essence, the artist’s vision is lost if the audience has control over the experience.” However, that puts into contention whether interactive installations such as Lee Mingwei’s The Mending Project (2009) where the public can bring torn clothes to have repaired and kept as part of the installation throughout the duration of the exhibition. This argument also disproves Marina Abramović’s performance artwork The artist is present (2010) as art. In The artist is present, Abramović invites the public to take part in the work by sitting in a chair at a table opposite her and stare at her, often leading to strong emotionally moving experiences by viewers who participated in the work.
Are all video games art?
But perhaps we should narrow the argument and ask the question whether some games can be art while others are not. If painting is art, then why do we not consider painting a wall in your house art?
Discussion points
· Are games art? Why/why not?
· Can parts of a game be art? (Concept drawing, game art, character design, game levels)
· Can painting a wall in your house be art? Why/why not?
· Would the Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, still be considered an artwork if he had painted it a plain colour?
· Do you agree with Ben Reeves that “interactivity inhibits the artist’s ability to convey an emotional message”?
· Who decides what art is? The artist? Art critics? The public? Museums and galleries?
· Are games art? Why/why not?
· Can parts of a game be art? (Concept drawing, game art, character design, game levels)
· Can painting a wall in your house be art? Why/why not?
· Would the Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, still be considered an artwork if he had painted it a plain colour?
· Do you agree with Ben Reeves that “interactivity inhibits the artist’s ability to convey an emotional message”?
· Who decides what art is? The artist? Art critics? The public? Museums and galleries?
Activity
As a class, debate whether games can be art. Students can be given some time to research different games to build their case or you can go into the discussion cold.
As a class, debate whether games can be art. Students can be given some time to research different games to build their case or you can go into the discussion cold.
Further Resources
Games Now Legally Considered an Art Form in the USA
Video games have recently become recognised as art in the US and it is now possible to get a Government grant. Discuss the implications of this on artists and the art community.
Games Now Legally Considered an Art Form in the USA
Video games have recently become recognised as art in the US and it is now possible to get a Government grant. Discuss the implications of this on artists and the art community.