Rohail Aamer
Dr. O’Brien
Language & Literature 2
May 12, 2022
Can a Video Game be a Work of Art?
Video games are a popular form of entertainment involving interaction with some sort of device, such as a controller or keyboard. Video games have changed a lot over the years, starting in the 60s with games such as Pong, a game where you essentially hit a ball back and forth similar to sports such as ping pong, hence the name Pong. Games today are much more technology advanced but can offer some of the best stories in the entertainment industry. Video games were, are and probably always will be a controversial topic, with many arguing that games are sexist, too violent, etc. One of these arguments is whether a video game should be considered a work of art. I believe that if a book, movie, or song is considered to be a work of art, then a video game should as well. According to the official definition of art, video games fall under the category of art.
Many who argue that games should not be considered art typically point towards arcade games released in the 1980s and 90s. During this time period, video games were considered to be time killers or something that was played for a quick boost of dopamine. The target audience for arcades were usually high schoolers with enough quarters to last them through a Friday night. Despite this, video games from this era should still be considered art. The definition of art, as stated by Britannica, is “a visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination” (Britannica). Let's take Super Mario Bros on the NES for example. The game is filled with different environments, music, level design, and enemies, all of which come from the expression of one’s creative skill. Being a 2D game, at first glance it seems that the only way to beat a level would be to go to the right. However, the developers have added in many creative secrets that allow players to take shortcuts or skip to levels further down the line. This was a creative way that the developers came up with to provide benefits for those that took their time to explore levels. This is the same way that a song, or a painting can be creative, just in a different media.
The majority of people will consider movies to be a form of art. Many modern single-player games act like interactive movies, so if movies are considered art, why not games? Let’s look at another popular video game, Red Dead Redemption 2, a single-player narrative driven game about a gang of outlaws. The game is filled with cinematic moments, colorful characters, beautiful visuals and big action setpieces. The main character, Arthur Morgan, acts as a moral compass for the players. Depending on the player’s actions, Arthur’s storyline will end differently. The game allows players to explore the world at their own pace. Environments range from coarse, harsh deserts, to chilly, snowy mountains. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most “movie-like” games out there, but just because it's similar to a movie, does not mean that only these types of games should be considered art.
Not every game may be perfect, but that does not mean that every game is not a piece of art. As stated in the previous paragraph, most people consider movies to be art, and so usually only games with quality of a film will be considered art, while other types of games are not. Games are one of the most unique as a medium due to their interactive aspect. Choices and decisions are made by the player instead of an author or scriptwriter. As long as art is considered to be the expression of human creativity, then video games should also be considered art.
Works Cited
Britannica. www.britannica.com/art/visual-arts. Accessed 12 May 2022.
Super Mario Bros. NES, Nintendo, 1985.
Red Dead Redemption 2, Version 1.14 for Windows 10 , Rockstar, 2018.
This is pretty interesting. I think it incorporates many art forms and thus games should be considered a work of art.
ReplyDeleteTo elaborate on what Bruce said, I agree. Videogames are a symbiosis of both the arts and sciences, fusing into one cohesive and interactive piece. If a song in the game, or a backdrop, or a story can all be considered art, then shouldn't the sum of all of them be the greatest work imaginable?
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that whether or not a video game is an art is decided by how serious it takes itself. Art can be a lot of things. One main thing that distinguishes video games from other forms of art is its main goal. Video games, for the most part, are designed for the enjoyment of the player. Unlike a sculpture or a painting, a video game does not have to be perceived as beautiful or evoke strong emotions, at least not to the standard of less contemporary forms of art. However, these things that many people associate with art are not actual criteria for something to be defined as art. Art can be entirely abstract. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteArt is a broad topic to define something by, but surprisingly, it's very controversial as well. Art is more of an expression than an adjective to define something as. You mention that video games fall under the official definition of art, and I completely agree. Video games, even dating back to the classics, can still be considered art, as a lot of time and effort is put in by a whole team of people to create something that others can enjoy.
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