Are video games art?

[BigDaddyCool]

I'm moving this discussion out of the "News" thread and into its own so it doesn't just get lost in the shuffle. I seem to have hit a nerve with a couple of people by saying I don't accept videos, the media as a whole, as art. I then got half thoughts on yes they are or told to shut up because of fan boy rage.

Now first off I believe the only reason passions about video games as art are only running high because of that legislation in California, and even I am willing to call video games as art to get video games the same protection as movies or whatever.

Also I'm not saying video games are not artistic in certain areas, and I'm not saying people don't pour hard work into the games being produced.

I am saying the media, as a whole is not art. I will accept a single video game can be art, I have just yet too see it, I hear good things about Shadows of the Colossal.

So to even have this discussion, we have to define what we mean when we say art. What is art? I've heard it is a blanket statement for anything at is creative, but I don't really accept that so easily. Because then anything could be viewed as art if these is an ounce of creativity or ingenuity and the word loses meaning. I believe that is the basis for what can be art, but it has to be more. I believe there needs to be a respect for the work as well. If it is a joke, or just a device solely to make money or accomplish some petty goal, it loses credibility. Also it has to be something most people outside the creative media can appreciate. They average joe can hear Mozart and recognize there is something there, so art. Most people can look at Picasso and recognize it is good without someone telling them it is good.

I will flat out say the media of video games has not met those criteria, and I do not believe a single video game has yet ether, though some are getting close.

Discuss