Can Something Interactive Be Considered Art?
One of the strongest arguments against video games being art is their interactive component. For some, this makes them more akin to board games such as Monopoly or Life . However, this criticism fails to account for the uniqueness of gaming and its evolution over the last sixty-plus years. Gaming today is more than reacting to something on a screen. Almost every video game is a unique experience created by one or multiple artists, with some intent to evoke certain emotions similar to those experienced in cinema or literature, which distinguishes gaming from something like Monopoly or Life . Video games also use other artistic mediums to create distinct aesthetics and emotions, such as cinematic cutscenes rivaling the best movies, areas looking similar to live-action paintings the player can interact with, or a soundtrack that leaves a lasting impression. These emotions are not far from what a movie or book evokes. Emotional states such as sadness over a character’s death, awe over th...