Art is art, no matter the form. While this may sound simplistic, when the term “art” is applied to video games, too many people don’t see it that way. Why is that? The problem lies with the definition of what “art” truly is. Before I go any further lets make things clear, this is not a call to change people’s perceptions, this is a thoughtful look at what defines art and why I feel video games are a legitimate art medium.
The best place to start is defining what art is. According to Webster, art is defined as:
“The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects… decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter…”
When referring to the form of art, the definition is slightly different:
“A form or medium of expression recognized as fine art… an unconventional form or medium in which impulses regarded as artistic may be expressed…”
Now that art has been defined, I also need to define video games. Again from Webster:
“An electronic game played by means of images on a video screen and often emphasizing fast action.”
To define art, as it applies to video games, I am going to combine several of these definitions into one. Video games as a medium for artistic expression should described as:
“The conscious use of creative imagination in the unconventional medium of fast moving images on a video screen which are regarded as in a recognized form of fine art.”
I will attempt to explain my reasoning regarding this definition as best I can, if you have any thoughts please leave them in the comments. My hope is the discussion will continue beyond what I have placed here.
“The conscious use of creative imagination…”
Game design is an iterative creative process that encompasses many facets or traditional art. There are early sketches of characters, clay models that are scanned into the computer, the music that plays in the game, and the voice-acting that bring life to the characters. From the beginning to end of developing games there are numerous examples of art in video games. This art does not spring from nothingness; it is consciously brought out and refined through a process of collaboration. There have been games recently that were well-known for their creative imagination, Braid being a great example. Almost every frame of the game can be a work of art. A single snapshot could be enlarged, printed, and hung on a wall. Another example is Auditorium. This delightful flash game allows you to create your own symphony of music and colors as you play. Every play through the game results in a different musical piece produced as it is impossible to play the game that exact same way twice. These are only two examples of unique, artful games out of the vast number available.
“…in the unconventional medium of fast moving images on a video screen…”
This might cause some discussion, because I am defining motion on a screen as unconventional. Let’s step back for a moment to put this into perspective. In all of history how long has the moving picture been a part of the human experience? The answer is simple: nowhere near as long as most other forms of art. Thus justifying the definition of moving images on a video screen as unconventional. However, this is not as unconventional as some might define it. A moving picture is simply the passage of still images with minute variations at a rate that is perceived as motion. So where do these images come from? This takes us back to the first part of the definition. If the motion is clean and the images rendered in an artistic manner, they can individually be art by the traditional definition. This is the same leap that causes movies to be defined as an art form.
“…which are regarded as in a recognized form of fine art”
This part of the definition requires an understanding of what the “form of fine art” really is. Webster defines fine art as,
“Art (as painting, sculpture, or music) concerned primarily with the creation of beautiful objects.”
Referencing the first two parts of the definition, each frame can be viewed as a painting that when combined with the rest, form a beautiful object. Under these circumstances the defining of what is beautiful and what is not is left up to the individual. I can personally appreciate the beauty in truthfully portraying the miseries of human experience in both movies and video games. There are numerous examples of paintings that are not referred to as beautiful by the majority of people, but are beautiful when viewed through the lens of the creator. I can name pieces of music that I would never define as beautiful, nor pleasing. On the other side of the coin, there are individuals that think how the notes intertwine produce a priceless work of fine art.
This brings us back to the root of the issue, how art is defined by you as an individual. No matter how much you think something is beautiful, the person next to you will look at it as junk, not worthy of being called art. One person’s junk is another’s art medium, literally. There are fantastic sculptures that were created using junk from landfills. It all comes back to perception. Through this you have hopefull gotten a glimpse of mine, so please share yours. I will do my best to respond to comments directed my way and invite you as readers to continue this look at video games as an art medium.
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