The Importance of Video Games as Art

I was trying to figure out how I could start this off, and I think this is a good topic to cover early on.  Hopefully this first post can address some of the basic questions and criticisms people might give early on.  I can’t possibly address everything, so if enough people make comments I may very well write another post on this subject, but for now I’ll address this as I can.

Now and again in various internet forums someone will post something regarding video games as art, and many views on the subject start flying.  There are often some interesting things said within this sea of mostly repetitive arguments, but there is one simple thing I keep hearing that has been getting to me for a long time: “It doesn’t matter.”

Most gamers argue that video games should be looked upon more favorably by society, but many of them do not feel as strongly that society should look upon games as an art form.  The ideas behind this viewpoint are varied.  Some claim that as long as they can enjoy their games, it doesn’t matter whether or not they are an art form.  Some say as long as gamers know and understand games as an art form, society as a whole does not need to.  Yet others claim that the very meaning of “art” is subjective, meaning that video games are art if you think they are, and they are not if you think they’re not, so the entire issue is meaningless.  All of these arguments are based on some degree of subjectivism, but regardless of whether that fits into your personal philosophy, there is something very important that they all ignore.

If you’re not one for art theory, think back to your high school or college sociology class and what it said about art.  In short, art is an absolutely vital, critically important part of culture.  Art is the way humans try to explain and explore some of the less quantifiable aspects of the human experience.  It’s the way we both influence and record our culture of the time.  Creativity, the driving force of art, is one of the things that separate us from animals.  Art brings culture together, defines and enforces societal values, and has the power to affect both individuals and culture as a whole.

'Cause these two are totally the
same, right?

Since art is so important to culture, it makes sense that the concept of art must be solidified enough to study it.  In fact, this is already done in many ways that we often take for granted; consider genres, for instance.  Despite the complexity of art and all the ways it can be presented, in order to more effectively study artworks, we have assigned them labels based on their themes and settings even though these things are much too difficult to grasp with a system of simple labels.  What chaos would ensue if we tried to study Citizen Kane in the same way we study District 9, or if we applied the same analytical logic to Sense and Sensibility as to Lord of the Rings!  However, there are always the occasional works that challenge these genres, often resulting in new genre labels until there are so many sub-genres that most people can’t figure it out.  How do you categorize Apocalyptica, a hard rock band comprised of four cellists and a drummer (no, I’m not kidding; check them out)?  Has anyone yet put Shawn of the Dead in a definitive genre, or does it still stand alone in the “romantic zombie comedy” category with a healthy dose of parody thrown in?  Genres are important because they allow us to more effectively study artworks, but they are ultimately an attempt to quantify the unquantifiable.  Impossible though it may seem, it is very important.

So considering the importance of putting a definition on the indefinable, one must ask what bearing a subjective art theory has on this.  The answer?  Nothing at all.  Because even if the very definition of art is up to the individual, that is not an effective way to study or categorize something.  Such ambiguity has its place, but this, a situation where something must be categorized and studied, is not it.  We as a culture must attempt, as best we can, to solidify these slippery concepts of art and creativity so that we may analyze them, explore them, and allow them to affect culture as they can and must.

This is why, regardless of whether “art” is a subjective or objective concept, definitions regarding what general medium is and is not an “art form” must be made if a culture is to effectively study, explore, and truly experience what art has to offer.

This is my view on the issue, at least.  If you have any questions, disagreements, encouragements, suggestions, whatever, feel free to comment.  And if you like what I’ve said so far, like me on Facebook!  Or if not, just wait to see if I ever say anything good first.

Introduction

Hello there!  I am Thaius, and this is my new blog.

This is a place for exploration, investigation, and theorization of video games as a storytelling medium.  Here, I hope to dig into some of the deeper artistic theory regarding video games, from the properties of interactive storytelling to the complications of adaptation from other mediums.  Hopefully a bit of what is discussed here can help inform and shape not only your views on the subject, but my own as well.

Thing is, I've been studying video games as a narrative medium for quite a few years now, and due to the fact that this type of study is still trying to get off the ground, I've been trying to develop ideas, theories, and terminology that can help me better understand this exciting medium.  However, all the articles and such that I write just sit on my computer, having helped me further develop my thoughts, but serving no purpose for anyone else.  For that matter, without proper feedback on these ideas, I can't develop them beyond my own consciousness and knowledge.  Thus, Binary Narrative was born.

Despite the fact that it is comprised of merely two different numerals, binary code can represent just about anything.  It is extremely versatile, and vital to the digital world.  For that matter, the word "binary" seems to imply clarity, a simple black-and-white way to view a given issue.  Though few things are really this simple, especially in the artistic world, I think our culture has largely lost an understanding of the value of binary thinking in certain contexts, one of which is artistic theory.

Video games may seem simple as well, like simple entertainment or little toys, but they are much more.  They are the next step in the evolution of storytelling, a medium that allows the player to actively participate in the story that is being told.  This is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the artistic world since stories were first told.  Their study is vital to the artistic world, and we all should learn to look at our games as more than simple wastes of time, and to consider the value they could have to us and society.  However, many people have lost sight of this fact, settling for the idea that it does not matter whether or not games are art, that it's simply a matter of opinion and should not be pushed as an objective idea.  This blog is here to explore these issues and themes, hopefully expanding both your and my views on the subject.

There is one important thing about me that I am going to specify regarding the way that I approach my research and theory; I am an artistic objectivist.  I believe the meaning of the word "art," though hard to definitively define, has some specific elements (creativity, skill, purpose) that are an irremovable part of any artwork.  These elements are present in all artworks, and works that include them are art.  If a person or society does not recognize them as such, this does not mean it is "not art to them," it simply means they do not recognize its inherent and objective artistic status.  It affects the ability of that given artwork or art form to affect the person or culture, but does not change what art is.  Words are, after all, nothing more than a symbol; a culture can decide their own meaning of the word "art," but they cannot change what the actual concept is, only what they recognize of it.  Following this, video games are art, plain and simple.  However, I recognize that not everyone holds this view, and though my objectivism will be the foundation of many of my concepts and theories, I hold that they are still very important even to the most devoted subjectivist, and will address why in my writings.

Aside from the occasional reviews or commentaries on gaming news throughout the week, I am going to try to make sure I have a new article every Saturday at midnight.  Feel absolutely free to comment on the posts or send me an email with any questions, complaints, disagreements, or topic suggestions.  I will do my best to read them all and address them in one way or another.

I hope you enjoy this little adventure, and I hope you get as much out of it as I do.