Are Video Games Art
Every time a new form of expression or creation is made, there is always a debate as to whether or not it is a form of art. When film was first created, it was at first denounced as a trivial form of mind numbing entertainment. Video games have now taken the place of cinematography in this debate. Many art critics have stated that it could never be art in the past, yet, there have been game exhibits in art museums. Gamers have defended games for the past several years as people from the other side of the argument have accused video games of causing violence and being a lower form of entertainment. Let’s explore the world of video games and the heated debate over its validity as a form of entertainment and expression.
It is sometimes difficult to define what is art. Shelly Hasser, an art teacher at MHS, said, “Music is art, poetry can be art, drawing and painting is art, art can be anything where a person has innate skill, expresses themselves, and creates things that can be appreciated.” Games are products and experiences that have been created with the purpose of entertaining others.
Most people would not consider Pong or Tetris to be art, they are simple games with no narrative. They are both old games, but the medium has evolved over the years. Art is often created to express something about the real world, and an old arcade game does just that. Missile Command was actually inspired by the Cold War. At the time it was made, tensions between the US and the Soviet Union were high, and the threat of nuclear war was on the backs of everyone’s mind. As time went on, games began to gain more of a narrative base, starting with games like The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. At first, games had simple plot lines, but they became more deep and complex as time went on. More recently, game stories often have morally gray choices that challenge how the player thinks, for example, Mass Effect is a game that revolves around its story and player choices. There are many major choices in the game that have multiple positive and negative effects that result from either choice. With the evolution of game narrative, games are coming closer to art.
Games are an expressive medium with many aspects, they can combine music, art, graphics, cinematography, and gameplay into one cohesive experience when done well. The game The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is considered a masterpiece to Nintendo fans and other members of the gaming community due to its story, symbolism, and soundtrack. The five different areas in the game are said to symbolize the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The music from the Legend of Zelda franchise is iconic and instantly recognizable along with many other game soundtracks such as Final Fantasy, Mario, and Shadow of The Colossus. The Last of Us is another famous game with a deep and complex story, the reason why it is praised so highly within the gaming community is due to the story of the main characters Joel and Ellie. Joel and Ellie have an interesting relationship; in the beginning of the game, they want nothing to do with one another, but eventually Joel becomes a father figure to Ellie and she essentially becomes his surrogate child, this is especially touching because Joel had already lost his biological daughter at the beginning of the game and lost his trust towards most people.
Video games have been subject to controversy, especially in recent years due to the suggestion that video games are amoral and cause violence. Even with the heated debates surrounding them, video games are no doubt an influential form of entertainment finding its way into many living rooms. Art is subjective, so it is up to the audience to decide if it is art when given the information they need.