Can Video Games Be Considered Art

Aaron Smutz, a philosophy professor at Rhode Island College, in his rhetorical essay “Are Video Games Art?” asserts that video games are indeed art. He first puts forward three critically well-received games to be considered art, then determines what can be used to determine art by considering “sister media” like art and music as well as competition such as chess, football or ice-skating. After establishing an “informal” definition of art, Smutz comes to conclude that since the games he provided cover several facets of game-types and since those games can reasonably fall into the definitions provided of art, then most video games should be considered art. Smutz forms his essay in order to explore the artistic merit of games. Smutz also writes

Video games have become a key element of popular culture, because they have attracted players from many different cultures and age groups. Video games have come a long way since Pong and Spacewar. Since the first video games, there have been innovations in this industry nearly every year, always striving to defy the impossible. Today, the newest generation of gaming consoles are extremely powerful, and with this comes the ability to make games that are increasingly realistic and advanced. Because of this advancement in video game technology, video game genres have expanded to include racing, shooting, adventure, horror, and so many more. Many of the games today even feature a historical element. To the outside viewer, it may seem as if these

Video games have become a massive icon that has spanned decades, technology and even cultural boundaries. Whether you play on a computer, tablet, phone, or console: at some point in your life, video games have been a part of what you do. Strike up a conversation about games and you can make lasting friendships or bitter enemies. Even if they might not know the specific game, everyone knows what the genre is, and because of this, video games have taken their lasting place in our pop

In the article “Art Form For The Digital Age,” by Henry Jenkins, Jenkins elaborates on the ever expanding video game industry and cites that it is now being considered a digital art. The gaming industry is also said to be the form of art in today’s economy that has grown the most.

So by playing video games you learn how to analyze each choice you make to see if the overall outcome is beneficial. He also states that many videogames now allow it players to “build, design, and populate”. This gives the gamer the ability to be creative and expand their mind. “Dream Machine” all in all defends the use of videogames by stating the favorable characteristics of gaming - “creativity, community, self-esteem, problem-solving”. The author uses his authority and knowledge of video games to display a position towards video games that most people have never seen before.

Video games are a profound art form, incorporating trades and mediums that span the artistic spectrum and beyond. To refute this is to ignore decades of rich history, disregard hours of artful labor, and discredit the immeasurable devotion of many whom worked to perfect this art form. Although video games may not suit every individual’s tastes, one cannot claim with credibility they possess no artistic merit.

disbelief about video games not being considered art. In the article by Nick Gillespie, Are Video

It is true that there have been many debates over this topic of video games but most people don’t really understand the world of video games and technology. In “Dream Machine” by Will Wright explains to us that many people only view video game as a negative and don’t think beyond that point. “Most people on the far side of the generational divide-elder-look at games and see a list of ills (They’re violent, addictive, childish, worthless).” (Wright 211). I believe that there are a few flaws in playing video games. There are a few games out there that have crude acts of violence, language, and also display sexual material. There are labels on them to help parents know what their children are playing. However, not a lot of people know that there are also a positive side of playing video games. Non-gamers need to understand that playing video games can enlighten the mind of people. It can help with creativity and imagination is one of the main benefits of playing video games. “They [videogames] will allow us to express ourselves, meet others, and create things that we can only dimly imagine.” (213) I strongly agree with what Wright is stating, it is amazing how people can play with each other around the world and also there are some games with good problem solving and also how to work as a team. Technology devices are also a big part of the argument, it can of prevent us from speaking face to face and it has a different way to communicate around the

Video Games to many, are a way to escape reality and get into their “zone” and do things only imaginable in virtual reality. For others, it's a stress reliever. Then there are those who see it as a horrendous creation that should

and art are just alike. videogames and art take time to plan, they both take time to develope, they both

This definition is not complete, however. The element that separates an art game such as Myst from the average time waster, such as Angry Birds, is that the former has something to say to the audience, versus just making the audience feel a certain way. Myst has a deep tale underneath its puzzles that is comparable to storytelling in books and movies, while Angry Birds is aimed primarily for the user to have fun. In this way, video games can be put under the category of a literary art, which Encyclopedia Britannica defines as being characterized by a narrative (Clarke and Mitchell). With that, video games make for a compelling storytelling medium.

Although competitive video game players or people who create video games may believe that video games are right in being considered as a sport, I do not believe that video games should be considered as a sport because they are not athletic in any way and do not require any physical activity. Although, I believe this there are certain points that I can agree with.

In conclusion video games should be considered a sport or a virtual sport. It should be considered one because it is somewhat similar to a sport. Gamers train just like athletes do to become better and be the best. They play in arenas and have many fans to cheer them on just like a real sports event. If golf and chess are sports then playing video games should be considered as one as

In an article titled Video Games Can Never be Art, the author, Roger Ebert, a famous film critic and well known journalist, shares his opinion that video games will never have the same status as other great works. To specify, he claims that ”no video gamer now living will survive long enough to experience the medium as an art form,” (Ebert). He then subsequently explains that the definition of art is “the creation of one artist,” (Ebert) meaning that a dance is an art because of the choreographer, and architecture is art because of the architect. (Ebert) Very early in the article Ebert makes his point exceedingly clear, he states that not only does he consider video games as something not worth his time, but that they will never (in this lifetime,) amount to the works of any great artist such as Michelangelo or Picasso. He then furthermore contrasts art mediums, including composing,

How does a virtual city in a video game represent art? Art is seen everywhere; the architecture, the faded graffiti created by rival gangs, and the interactive characters’ clothing designs. These two video game examples alone prove the ever-growing technological representation of art in video games, whether it is a fantasy world full of colorful, exotic plants or a gritty, realistic setting where crime and graffiti scatters throughout. Video games use visuals as well as use creative media to explore and represent art in gaming.