Are Games and Digital Creations A New Form of Art?
Are games and digital creations art? This question has been asked and debated in a variety of platforms and contexts, from academia to the mainstream gaming community. Proponents argue that these mediums have the capacity to evoke emotion, tell complex narratives, and demonstrate a high degree of creativity and craftsmanship—traditional characteristics associated with art.
Are games and digital creations art?
On the other hand, critics might question their commercial focus and interactive nature. This blog post will delve into both sides of the debate, examining the evolving relationship between art, games, and digital creations.
Video Games as an Art Form
Roger Ebert, the late American film critic, famously stated that "Video games can never be art" (Ebert, 2010). His argument was primarily that video games were too focused on rules and objectives to allow for the free interpretation that characterizes traditional art.
However, this perspective has been heavily challenged. Brenda Romero, a game designer, argued in her 2017 TED Talk that games, like art, have the potential to evoke deep emotional responses and create spaces for empathy and understanding. Games such as "That Dragon, Cancer" and "Journey" have been widely recognized for their emotional narratives and aesthetics, thus pushing the boundaries of what games can achieve artistically.
Digital Creations and Art
Digital creations cover a broad range of mediums, including digital paintings, animations, 3D models, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and more. Like video games, digital creations can provoke thought, tell stories, and showcase artistic skill.
Artists such as David Hockney and Marina Abramović have utilized digital technology to create thought-provoking works, demonstrating that this medium is capable of holding its own in the art world. For instance, Marina Abramović's "Rising," a virtual reality piece, invites users to experience the effects of climate change first-hand (Abramović, 2018).
The Intersection of Art, Games, and Digital Creations
Both games and digital creations push the boundaries of traditional art definitions, combining elements of interactivity, immersion, and storytelling in innovative ways. Some even argue that the artistry of games and digital creations goes beyond the visual and narrative to include the technical, such as the coding and software development that goes into creating them.
Recent developments, such as the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the art world, further blur the line between traditional and digital art, showcasing the potential value and collectability of digital creations (Cascone, 2021).
Conclusion
To return to the original question: are games and digital creations art? The answer is inherently subjective and may depend on one's definition of art. However, it is undeniable that both mediums exhibit the characteristics traditionally associated with art—they tell stories, provoke emotion, and showcase technical and creative skill.
Perhaps, instead of asking whether games and digital creations are art, we should focus on how they expand and challenge our understanding of what art can be. As we continue to explore these mediums, we may discover new artistic potentials that we never thought possible.
References:
[Ebert, R. (2010). Video Games Can Never Be Art](https://www.rogerebert
