Works of Game

More about the book

Games and art have intersected since the early twentieth century, evident in the Surrealists' Exquisite Corpse, Duchamp's fascination with Chess, and Fluxus event scores. In recent years, the relationship between art and games has become muddled. Contemporary art has utilized video game tools without recognizing their unique cultural significance. Conversely, game developers and players often overlook the artistic aspects of game creation and evaluation. John Sharp addresses this disconnect by proposing a formal aesthetics of games that highlights both their similarities and differences with art. He identifies three communities of practice: 1. "Game Art," featuring artists like Julian Oliver and Cory Arcangel, who view video games as a popular culture source for subject matter and tools. 2. "Artgames," crafted by developers such as Jason Rohrer and Brenda Romero, which delve into themes typically explored in poetry, painting, literature, or film. 3. "Artists' Games," involving creators like Blast Theory and Mary Flanagan, who embrace a more integrated view of games as an artistic medium. Sharp argues that the works produced by these gamemakers demonstrate the potential for creating game-based artworks that resonate with both contemporary art and gaming communities.