Video Games : Stay Away From 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

Art is something that can be described and expressed in several different ways to communicate ideas and emotions through visualizations. Through art we are able to see the world like never before. It inspires and motivates us to be creative. We are able to think further and beyond. In addition, art gives us the ability to understand what artists are trying to display and the messages they are trying to convey through their works. Art can be found anywhere and created by anyone (Dewitte, Larmann, and Shields 29-30).

Video games have been around since 1950s and have gone a long way from what they are today. They are in no doubt a big part of our society and with doing so they have been criticized by many. Video games come in different categories which include: action, racing, adventure, role-playing, simulation, strategy, and sports. The purpose of these games can be casual, serious, art, Christian, and educational. You can play these games on different types of platforms as well to make it the gamers preference. In today’s society, it is common for one to play video games. Some people play causally and some play professional to make money. Even though, video games are now mainstream, they are still being stigmatized and it has been like that since the creation of them. Some people see video games as a waste of time and that they are unproductive, but after being studied thoroughly by researchers that is not true; video games are known to have benefits. It can help children with development and it can help adults perform better at their job. It can also help people with different disorders. Video games should not be stigmatized because of the advantages ranging from cognitive to social benefits for children, people with disabilities, and adults.

Although Ebert did not engage with the issue again and his view remains mired in controversy, the notion that video games are ineligible to be considered fine art due to their commercial appeal and structure as choice-driven narratives has proved persuasive for many including video game luminary Brian

The video game world is full of wonders, fantasy worlds, and even real life scenarios that we see on television. There are games based off of television shows, popular movies, and even comic book universes. In David Perry’s speech and presentation, “Are Video Games Better Than Life?” he brought up a lot of points about gaming both from its humble beginnings to where we are today. However, he made it clear that the discussion was to be about the video game world. Are video games better than reality? This is a hard question with various and diverse answers. It is something that people from just about all walks of life have an opinion about. Through the use of a media presentation, he showed the diverse evolution of games; how since

The game seeks to trick us for a time into abandoning what is real (home) and focus on what is inside our monitors and T.V.s. Baudrillard spoke on the process of a simulated reality in a multi-step process. “In the first case, the image is a good appearance – representation is of the sacramental order.” This can be related to the early days of video games when they used cathode ray tubes to project pixelated images onto a curved glass scene. Video games where very new, and exciting. “In the second, it is an evil appearance – it is of the order of maleficence. This can be related to games starting about 15 years ago till today. Video games were and still are thought to be a source of violence in people. Many view them as a waste of time and that they detriment a person. Though this mentality is starting to fade as we shift towards the third order “In the third, it plays at being an appearance – it is of the order of sorcery”. Technology is starting to advance to the point that anyone without training in the field cannot understand what is going on. As myths about video games negative appearance are being debunked or confirmed their negative aspects are getting swallowed up by the more exciting advancements in the fields. “In the fourth, it is no longer of the order of appearances but of simulation.” At this level the video game stops being a game, and starts to become a part of everyday life (home). For as much as some may dedicate their whole lives to games, in the

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

Art is a way that humans use to express their creative, skill, and imagination. For most artists using the world and all other unimaginable things are how they come up with their own work. One example, is Daryl Thetford, who is an amazing artist that makes art out of all kinds of photographs. One photograph is the search for realty, which is of a man sanding on a clock while holding a remote control pointed on a bulletin board full all kinds of photographs. The photograph colors are all light colors, many shapes, and many lines are used in the photograph. The search for realty is a vertical panting that expresses Thetford overview of the world, and how in many things in hid panting we see many evidence of his world view. The way Thetford views

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

Video games have come a long way since Pong rid children of their quarters in 1972. In the past few years, a dramatic shift in the publics’ view of games has occured. What was once considered a kid’s toy capable of turning brains into mush is now enjoyed by the average age of 35 (Essential Facts). In recent times, another paradigm shift has begun for gaming: the road to becoming an art form. Today, museum curators from across the globe continue to accept video games into their collection, adding to its legitimacy. However, just as movies struggled to be considered art in the 1970s, the path for video games has not been smooth sailing. Many critics, such as the late Roger Ebert, have been increasingly vocal about their reasoning for why a

Overall, art is difficult to define. There are many different forms, and different ways of classifying it. Art doesn’t have to be perfectly constructed, but what it lacks in technique it should make up for in content. It should have meaning. It needs to involve changing something in some way to possess a purpose or portray a

Art is defined as "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form...producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power." While paintings and sculptures may immediately come to mind when one hears the word "art," they are not the only forms; books, movies, plays, and even buildings are all forms of art. All forms of art can play a significant role in influencing human nature.

1. I disagree with the authors' definition for work of art. The author states that their thought on work of art has to be something made by a person. Nature such as trees and insects are not works of art. I personally hold more of vague and open opinion on my definition for work of art. I feel like nature and even the uncontrolled movements caused by non human are considered as art. My definition of work of art would be something that can be seen or thought visually by human beings. I would include everyday objects including water bottles and cell phone with my own inspirations applied like mixed media as work of art. I think it does not always have to human or an artist to be involved with the art work. The Fountain by Marcel Duchamp used a urinal with a fictional name signed as a work of art. He changed the original urinal by signing differing from an original urinal. Things do not have to be at a gallery or be complicated designed to be a work of art. The possibilities of art are endless