Video games legally considered a form of art

[ehra]

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109835-Games-Now-Legally-Considered-an-Art-Form-in-the-USA

The "games as art" debate will likely continue raging for years before videogames reach complete cultural acceptance, but at least one important organization now officially considers games art: The US Federal Government. Or, rather, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) considers games art - which technically amounts to the exact same thing.

For those not familiar with the NEA, it is a US government organization-slash-program which funds artistic projects around the country which will "enhance the public good." If you're an artist who wants to make a beautiful sculpture for a public place, for instance, and you don't want to sell it commercially - but you would like to continue eating - you can apply for a grant of up to $200,000 to make your work of art. There are all sorts of regulations and scrutiny in the application process, but that's the basic idea, anyway.

The NEA opened its application doors this week for 2012, and announced that it would be changing its criteria for what counted as art. Most significantly for our chosen pastime is that the category formerly known as The Arts on Radio and Television will now be known as The Arts in Media. It will include film, television and radio artistic projects, but will also add satellite-based and internet-based media (as opposed to just landline-based broadcasts) and, you guessed it, interactive media:

Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); media created for theatrical release; performance programs; artistic segments for use within an existing series; multi-part webisodes; installations; and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more. (Emphasis ours)

Of course, any developer who wants federal funding for his or her next game will be competing with filmmakers, TV producers, radio stars and now internet productions too. Still, it means that an aspiring game-maker with an idea for an artistic game - which would have to be available for free, mind you - might have a shot at making it without being beholden to a larger publisher.

Naturally, this wouldn't just be the AAA-style of game that we're all accustomed to. Not only is $200k laughably small to the sort of money that goes into your average Call of Duty or Portal, the NEA only offers grants to projects which it deems for the public good. It's a safe bet that whatever game projects it approves - if any - will likely be different from what we see on shelves at GameStop.

But really, whether or not this grant will fund the sort of games that you and I would play for fun in our free time is ultimately irrelevant. What matters is that the NEA now officially considers videogames worthy of artistic merit, which is pretty damn cool.

woo

[Progmetty]

I always thought they were. Never thought of them as kitchen supplies.

[Dimitrius]

Ebert is gonna rage.

[Gadough]

Ebert is gonna rage.

This is the first thing I thought of. Oh well. That old fart will just have to deal with it.

[Implode]

Nice. The world is moving forward!

[Super Dude]

It's not such an unreasonable debate to have, but I'm glad this was the outcome.  Movies had to go through this process back before most living Americans can remember, and now we too are witnessing history.

[Volk9]

Nice. The world is moving forward!

[TheVoxyn]

I realised this the second I played Okami.

[73109]

So, what's the point. Maybe I'm too tired to get the article, but what does this mean for video games?

[Super Dude]

Freedom of speech, because art is considered a form of speech.

[73109]

Oh, so games like CoD and GTA can now not worry about having people brutally murdered on their games...great.

[Super Dude]

Or they can even tackle politically sensitive issues such as gender and homosexuality, or games like CoD can finally confront of the issue of featuring Al Qaeda as a playable team.

[73109]

Eh. I'm happy for those that are happy. This does not interest me.

[Progmetty]

Oh, so games like CoD and GTA can now not worry about having people brutally murdered on their games...great.

They have a Mature rating on them and their "brutal murders" are no where to be compared with those on movies like SAW or Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example.

[73109]

Oh, so games like CoD and GTA can now not worry about having people brutally murdered on their games...great.

They have a Mature rating on them and their "brutal murders" are no where to be compared with those on movies like SAW or Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example.

I don't think those should exist either...but, like I said, I really don't give a shit, so...yeah.

[ehra]

but, like I said, I really don't give a shit, so...yeah.

You've got the most posts in this thread.

[73109]

That doesn't necessarily mean I care. It means I am an amiable person who enjoys conversation.

+1

Anyways, I'll leave now.

[Dimitrius]

That doesn't necessarily mean I care. It means I am an amiable person who enjoys conversation.

Or you're a post whore.

[Implode]

Or they can even tackle politically sensitive issues such as gender and homosexuality, or games like CoD can finally confront of the issue of featuring Al Qaeda as a playable team.

They could've fought for that before. EA just doesn't care enough.

[AcidLameLTE]

This does not interest me.

Then don't post in the thread.

[orcus116]

Oh, so games like CoD and GTA can now not worry about having people brutally murdered on their games...great.

That is not even close to what the point of the article is.

[King Postwhore]

If Pixar is art, (And I believe so)  so are video games.  A computer is a canvas.

[Implode]

A computer is a canvas.

I've been thinking this for years now.

[Super Dude]

Or they can even tackle politically sensitive issues such as gender and homosexuality, or games like CoD can finally confront of the issue of featuring Al Qaeda as a playable team.

They could've fought for that before. EA just doesn't care enough.

Well yeah, although I think what I was trying to get at was more videogame studios can now approach controversial issues like that with some more confidence, now that there's free speech to back them up.

But honestly I can't imagine the potential now; videogames really can become now what movies have been for our culture for ages.  And I can't wait till I see the first great non-violent videogame (Myst does not count ).

[Perpetual Change]

great non-violent videogame (Myst does not count ).

Why not?

There are plenty of great non-violent videogames, though.

[Genowyn]

Does Portal count as non-violent? I guess blowing up computers isn't really violent.

[Mr. Beale]

And I can't wait till I see the first great non-violent videogame (Myst does not count ).

Um Tetris?

[Perpetual Change]

Does Portal count as non-violent? I guess blowing up computers isn't really violent.

The Sims, the Harvest Moon series, all the racing/sports games, the Phoenix Wright games, etc... but I think I do see what Super Dude is getting at.

[LeeHarveyKennedy]

OMG, this is the day I've been waiting for! Maybe now the New Yorker will finally see fit to publish my critical essay on the postmodern ties between Pacman and the tragedies of William Shakespeare!

[Kura]

It's about time! I personally think anything that offers a change of perspective to be art.. whether it be visual.. or even some inspiring words! I'm glad games are considered art now especially with all the art, planning, and creativity that goes into them!

[Kosmo]

Ever since i played a game called The Path i've looked at games with a more artistic eye.

[Super Dude]

Does Portal count as non-violent? I guess blowing up computers isn't really violent.

The Sims, the Harvest Moon series, all the racing/sports games, the Phoenix Wright games, etc... but I think I do see what Super Dude is getting at.

I don't mean great as in fun to play or very popular.  I mean significant.  And I think you do know what I'm getting at.

[Jamesman42]

Makes sense. Video games are the work of someone or a group of people, in the same sense that music, movies, and paintings are: that they are meant not just for the person who created them, but for others who would also enjoy taking it in.

[GuineaPig]

Oh, so games like CoD and GTA can now not worry about having people brutally murdered on their games...great.

They have a Mature rating on them and their "brutal murders" are no where to be compared with those on movies like SAW or Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example.

I don't think those should exist either...but, like I said, I really don't give a shit, so...yeah.

Says the guy whose favourite movie is A Clockwork Orange.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Nice to hear.