Entry 4: Are Video Games Art?

 There is a small section in my textbook that discusses the moving image, and how artists use it to portray art in an innovative format. This made me think about video games and whether or not they should be considered art.

 Of course, my answer is yes. People may have a different opinion because of the games they have experienced. When the average person thinks about games, the first thing that comes to mind is something resembling Call of Duty and the "meaningless" violence that comes with it. There is nothing wrong with Call of Duty, but it gives the public the wrong perception about video games. People need to understand that there is a story behind all the shooting and there are all kinds of elements of art that go into the level design and environments.

Call of Duty is a weak example, but I wanted to include it to show that all games have some sort of artful elements that go into it. This is a game that may illustrate the argument that games should just be for fun. I believe that games are both art and fun. They are a platform that combines elements of line, color, perspective, and balance to create a beautifully crafted world where players can experience fun entertainment while being invested in a story made to explore some sort of meaningful dilemma.

This is, of course, not true for bad games. Just like in any form of media there are some games that miss the mark. I am focusing on games that do their job well. In my first entry I talked about how art needs to have a purpose and expose some sort of feelings within the audience. All game do this, some better then others, and I want to explore this by looking at some stand out examples.

Bioshock Infinite

The thought process ,alone, that went into designing the game world of Columbia shows the same amount of process that goes into a work of art. Columbia is a floating city of beauty that hides the citizen's controversial views of race and religion among other things. The design and placement of the buildings will create a response from viewers. This is because the bright colors combined with the menacing statue makes you feel like something is going on beneath the surface. The heroic stance of the statue mixed with the facial expression create a sense of a firm figure that people look up too. The same thing is used in art that is expertly designed to create a certain response.


The last of Us

Naughty Dog, the developers of the Last of Us, are masters at creating a masterful experience that keeps you emotionally engaged throughout the story by their usage of graphics and characters. The world of the Last of Us is perfectly described as a beautiful wasteland. This can be seen from the way Naughty Dog crafts the world. There are peaceful views of nature ,seen above, that contradicts the dangers that lie beneath it. For a more straight forward example, artists use light to create a more naturalistic piece or highlight the focal point. In the Last of Us light is used for the same reasons. Whenever you walk to a new area and the rays of light highlight a majestic scene, you can't help but stop and appreciate the elegance that lies before your eyes. You can easily fall in a trance just like appreciating a captivating work of art.

Journey

If you talk about video games and art then you have to include Journey. In fact this game relies on its artful design, for there isn't any captivating gameplay. The game consists of you walking through a desert, yet it has won numerous awards. This is because of gorgeous settings that will cause you to get lost in this world. Journey is an illustration of how video games are much more then killing.   Journey is not a game, but an experience that will provoke all kinds of emotional responses. You will sit in awe and be afraid to make a sound, for it will disconnect you from the atmospheric perspective it creates. Its a short experience that can be beat in one sitting, but it's greatness will implore you to take another first step to start the Journey again. This video illustrates how Journey, along with other games, can portray an emotional response just like paintings, sculptures, or any other form of art.