Week 3 - The video games as art debate

To say that globalisation is a hotly contested topic would be a gross understatement. Nederveen Pieterse (2004, p.7) even suggests that “globalisation is like a prism in which major disputes over the collective human condition are now refracted…like a flag word, globalisation sparks conflict”. In this weeks’ blog I will explore one particular conflict; whether video games can be considered a form of art.

For all the conflict surrounding globalization, there is consensus that globalisation is shaped by technological change. This is reflected in a boom in increased information and communications technologies, leading to improved connectivity on a global scale (Nederveen Pieterse, 2004).  This boom has led to a cultural phenomenon of social media participation reflecting an ideology that suggests that everyone has a voice, and that voice matters. This voice is central to the debate surrounding whether video games are a form of art.

In 2010, well-known film critic Roger Ebert now famously stated that “video games can never be art”. In response, much of the internet gamer community rose up in combined disgust against this arguably outdated and narrow-minded viewpoint. To date, his blog post has attracted close to 5000 comments, many of which speak out in protest of his view, citing various game titles that they argue should challenge Ebert’s perception. Needless to say, the debate is still ongoing, with articles being produced as recently as within the last month. Journalist Laura Parker wrote an article posted August 2^nd 2013 entitled ‘A journey to make video games into art’  discussing the artistic merit present in 2012 game of the contender ‘Journey’.

The definition of irony?

I was rather amused to discover an advertisement for the newly released console version of Diablo 3 posted to the header above Ebert’s blog (see image above).  Of course this irony probably has more to say about surveillance in the space of new media, but this is likely a topic for a blog in and of itself. 

Source: Whatculture.com

As for my opinion? Well, it should be apparent as I am a gaming enthusiast. Some brilliantly artistic and story-driven games have been released in the last couple of years including Journey (mentioned above), Limbo, Bioshock Infinite, and The Last of Us. These examples indicate to me how far this medium has come as an art form, and it is one that continues to grow. Academic articles such as Petruitis’ (2012) ‘Video games as objects of art’ demonstrate that research into this have progressed far beyond simply anecdotal evidence and internet vitriol.

At the end of the day, art is a subjective phenomenon and the debate will continue to rage as to their artistic merit. I’m just happy the medium is progressing and look forward to continued change and the opportunities that globalised technology provide.

References

Ebert, R 2010, ‘Video games can never be art’, retrieved 3 September 2013, <http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/video-games-can-never-be-art>.

Nederveen Pieterse, J 2004, ‘Globalisation: consensus and controversies’, Globalisation and culture: global mélange, Rowan and Littlefield, Lanham, pp. 7-21.

Parker, L 2013, ‘A Journey to Make Video Games into Art’, retrieved 3 September 2013, <http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/08/a-journey-to-make-video-games-into-art.html>.

Petraitis, P, 2012, Video games as object of art: revival of the play element in contemporary artistic practice, Acta Academiae Artium Vilnensis, Issue 67, pp. 103-114.