Video Games as Art

When it comes to "art," I tend to be very inclusive yet critical at the same time. That is to say, I am willing to accept most everything as "artistic," but once I have, I will be very critical of its quality.

Video Games: It would seem very apparent that video games are art: they possess a story, with an often well developed plot and characters, and there is very obviously a significant amount of visual artistry that goes into developing them. Why then would Roger Ebert, the renowned movie critic, declare that "video games can never be art?"

Ebert's argument is that video games are an activity, as their name suggests, a game. And that as such, they are automatically removed from contention as being art. Citing the examples of Bobby Fischer and Michael Jordan, he states that those players never sought to have their activities deemed as "art."

First, do we not often look at sports stars or participants in various hobbies and activities and say "they make it an art?" Second, Ebert is arguing against the players of the video games as artists, where it seems the creators of the video games are the obvious artists. While Fischer or Jordan may not be "artists," someone had to design and create the chessboard and basketball equipment, and it would be either naive or elitist to say that their work is not art.

While I would agree with Ebert in that "No one in or out of the field has ever been able to cite a game worthy of comparison with the great poets, filmmakers, novelists and poets." And a great number of video games, while still acceptable as "art," are, to put it plainly, very crappy pieces of art. But anyone who has seen something like the video below must agree that in the very least, video games are creative and inspire creativity, which is, in my belief, a core part of what "art" is.

Yet Another Video

I find it just a tad sad (rhyme FTW) that when I can't think of something to say on this blog, I just post a video. Here's a video:

Gravité from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

[Tip o' the Hat to Tripp Crosby]

Nashville Flood

While I have been gone for a while, I have not been completely out of the loop. I was quite surprised to hear about the flooding in Nashville, maybe because I never associated Nashville with anything but music and art.

Anyhow, here is an excellent video by Michael Deppisch depicting the flood Nashville has been experiencing over the month of May:



[Tip o' the Hat to Rachel Middleton]

Defunct

That word has always intrigued me: defunct. Obviously coming from the same root as "function," but with the negative "de" attached, therefore making it essentially mean "not working." This is what goes on in my brain. I guess that's part of why I am an English major.

There was a point last week where I was seriously questioning my creativity. So I asked you to ask me questions. And because of one of those questions, and an excellent video posted on Stuff Christian Like, I have delved further into this idea.

I've come to realize that I am overly self-absorbed in, well, myself. I mean, T.J.'s a pretty cool guy and all, but he's nothing too special. I should know. I am he. (and yes, that is proper grammar). Basically, I am intensely concerned with how well I do things, and if I will fail.

Failure is one of my biggest fears. Not in all things, but in things I care about--and rarely will I verbally tell you what those things are. If you are carefully observant, however, you will be able to tell. If I get pissed when I don't do well in it, I probably care. If I get horribly despondent and morbidly introspective when it isn't going as planned, I probably care.

The problem is, all of this caring how things turn out comes from a place of pride, where I think one of two things: A) That I can do something, anything, whatever-the-task-at-hand-thing better than whoever I am competing against, or the personal standard I set for myself. B) That I can do anything good and pure and right without God. Both of these assumptions are wrong, and feed off the inherently competitive nature of pride (something that was brought to my attention by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, which I will probably discuss further in the future).

So when I fail to live up to my standard or God's standard (which, I dunno, always), I feel the pressure of the entire universe falling on me as I attempt an Alas-esque feat, trying to maintain my whole world.

I have my thoughts on why this is wrong and how to fix it, but I'm interested to hear what you think?

PICTURES FTW (Part the Second)

Here are some more portraiture-type photos. This assignment was similar to the last one, but in this one I had to specifically position my subjects. Thanks to Bruce and Matt for helping me out as "models." I use that term loosely.

Also, I have about 3-4 more batches of photos from this class, so keep an eye out for them in future posts.

This one may be a little cliché. Maybe:

And this one is one of my favorites:

Also, I just realized that all of these are vertical shots. Interesting.

PICTURES FTW

Because I know some people liked it when I put up the pictures I took before, and because everyone prefers looking at pictures to reading what I have to say, here's some pictures from my Intro to Photography class.

This first batch was a no-specifications portraiture assignment:

More to come tomorrow.

Unconventional Advertising

Due to unforeseen and difficult, stressful circumstances my posting may be spotty for a while. Here's one I dragged from the depths:

This video is way old, as in, I've had the draft for this post in my posts list for at least four to five months. So long, in fact, that I don't really remember the justification behind it, but perhaps those of you in advertising will enjoy this?

I know I would be cuss well more inclined to buying something if this advertisement flew by.



Is this an effective advertising technique?

[Tip O' the Hat to Brad Ruggles]

I Made This (For You)

It is an upgraded version of one that I tried a while back. Which one do you think is better?

Before, I said "It is supposed to be a heart, a semi-nerdy way of illustrating affection." I would like to add that it is finding affection in the ordinary.

When you care about something or for someone (definitely when you care for someone, it's like a drug, a comparison that I'm sure has been made before) it seems to me that you find all manner of things in your everyday experience that adds new meaning, new insight, or new expression to your affection.

It is true when I care for a person/when they care for me, or when I find myself particularly aware of my love for God, or his love for me.

Do you become more aware of illustrations of affection when you have an object of affection?

Sophomoresque Designs

Back in the good ole sophomore year, I took the required computer science class, and got to choose 3 labs. I choose Photoshop and Illustrator, in addition to the necessary Microsoft Word.

In said class, we were required to make three postcards centering around the same subject. These are what ensued. I would like to apologize in advance for the less than stellar designing. This is more for a laugh than anything else.

The first image was supposed to be advertising for a movie:

And the second was for a book:

And the third was for a play:

Now, as for this last one, would not a Justice League themed musical be one of the greatest things you could ever hope for or imagine? I think yes.

Hello, Cypress Gardens

I went down to Charleston a few weekends ago to celebrate my birthday with my family, and while I was down there, I took the opportunity to do the photo shoot assigned for my Intro to Photo class. Of the 134 pictures I took, these are the five I weaned it down to:






Apparently, those were not good enough for my professor, as he said I should have picked these two:



Finally, (now that your web browser is screaming "NO MORE IMAGES!") we had to convert our five selected images to black and white:

Marc Johns' Answer

Marc Johns, an artist who I have lauded before, has provided society with the answer to a seemingly impossible question:



Bravo, good sir, for providing us with the answer we've always hoped for.

Related:

• Bathroom Towel Graffiti
• Hardcore Mittens
• Antlered Eggs

Something I Made

It is supposed to be a heart, a semi-nerdy way of illustrating affection.

Help Portrait

What do you give someone in a time of economic despair, when you are comparably despairing yourself, and you are a mere photographic artist? You give them hope.

But how do you do give someone such an abstract, elusive thing? How about by giving them something they've never had before: a chance to be beautiful, and a picture to remember it by. Sounds good to me.

It also sounds good to Jeremy Cowart, a celebrity photographer and creator of Help Portrait, a movement to call as many photographers as possible to give people something simple, something meaningful.

December 12 they're trying to rally photographers to go do some significant stuff for those around them. Check out the their site or this short promo video:



[Tip O' The Hat to Tyler Stanton]

School Kills Creativity

It is astounding to me how nearly everyone thinks education is important, and most have education opinions based primarily on their own experience in school and a few random facts they've picked up from an article or random study or the like.

Not that this is wrong, just that it seems interesting that so many people "care," but not enough to really do something about it, beyond the occasional rally or protest or "get out the vote" campaign.

I'm not going to give you my ideas that I think will solve all issues. Even the video I'm about to introduce I don't think offers the end-all solution.

That being said, I think that what Sir Ken Robinson says is this video is really intriguing. Now, it is a 20 minute video, but I know you can stick it out, tiger.

Like he says: Where in the world can you find an education system that doesn't have a hierarchy of subjects with Math, Science, History at the top and the Arts at the bottom?

Oh, I forgot to mention that he is hilarious even through his serious subject matter.



So what do you think?

Do schools kill creativity?

How could we change this?

[Tip o' the Hat to Doug McAbee]

mewithoutYou -- "the Fox, the Crow And the Cookie"

What could be better than a band made up of two English teachers whose music is quite literally poetry set to music, redoing one of Aesop's fables?

How about if said band used puppets in the music video of said song? Yes, methinks.

If you don't know much about mewithoutYou, I highly recommend them and their new album, "It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's Alright!"

Things That Make Me Laugh

1. Marc Johns:


...list to be continued.

Flying Apparati & Other Such Sundries

Stumbled upon (not using the website, I'm too professional for that crap) the Belgian 'Sculpteur' Stephane Halleux. He has some amazing work! I was literally caught off guard by some of his pieces. The intricacy, the detail, immaculate. Here are a few pieces:

"Flying Civil Servant"

"Batman Begins 2"

[As you can see, he's got a penchant for flying things.]

"Marathon Man"

And here is another gallery with some of his work, in addition to his website which I linked to earlier. I seriously encourage you to check him out.

[Tip o' the Hat to Cameron]

Let Them Sing It For You

This is a pretty nifty thing: a speech generator that uses the voices and lines of popular artists to compose whatever text you want. It is pretty funny. Check it out.

I used it to say the name of this blog, in addition to a famous quote by Albert Einstein and Hebrews 11:1.

I wonder what some poetry would sound like?

It is listed as a public sound art project. Pretty interesting.

If one of the words you used doesn't work, it offers you a chance to suggest an artist and song that has that word or sound in it. Nifty.

[tip o' the hat to Paste Magazine]

Bathroom Towel Graffiti

I found this little gem over at Marc Johns' Blog. There are more there for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

Marc Johns

Found out about an illustrator named Marc Johns through Jason Boyett's Blog. This guys is hilarious, just check out some of his stuff:


I think I am going to go get his book, Serious Drawings, ASAP. I need to read more art anyway. I am definitely going to subscribe to his blog, huzzah!

Are there any artist who you are a particular fan of?