The New Art Form 9/29/2008

I am honored to be alive in this epoch of a new form of art. Paintings and writings have existed
for millennia, then music, a century ago movies, and now the video game. The connoisseur of today
would laugh at such a gesture, but posterity is bright. Today it is a toy, a thing to waste time away on,
not even well respected by its indulgers. It, however, will earn its respect and leave an indelible mark in
history.
Currently, and similar to movies, the novelty of this new expression is being used to make
money by capitalists. Marketing is aimed at the uneducated/uncultured masses, with an emphasis on
the graphics race and sensationalism. In time, novelty will wear away, the fad will end, graphics will
hit a maximum uniformity, and games will be taken in by the potentially erudite.
Examples of the art and education in this new expression system can be found in various genres.
Personally, while not a fan of sports, I have learned the rules of them from games (simulations). Drawn
art can be appreciated in the surrealism of the Mario Bros series, especially the third installment.
Stories from epics like Final Fantasy (my favorite being X in terms of story) and macabre drama such as
Silent Hill 4: The Room. To not give these a chance is to desert eclectic culture.
I believe in a world where a Legend of Zelda or a Final Fantasy can be compared to the Divine
Comedy or Paradise Lost. Raziel from Soul Reaver can become a generally known anti-hero. Like any
other art form, games can be trashy, fun but not having depth, or a true work of artistic genius.
Developers can express political and philosophical viewpoints. This world will be.
To live in the birth of a grand new idea makes me proud. It is only a matter of time before
capitalistic developers transfigure into proud artists happy to create their works not for money, but
intrinsic value. A matter of time when simulations are ranked with documentaries and text books for
educational purposes. A matter of time when game characters become house hold names. A matter of
time, unfortunately, while I saw the start, I miss the ends.
-Greg dratsab Huffman