Is The Witcher Art?

[Corylea.723]

Is The Witcher Art?

There's an extremely influential American movie critic who is arguing that video games cannot be art. He's not arguing that he's never played a game that qualifies as art; he's arguing that video games CAN'T be art.So, I was wondering, do you consider The Witcher to be art?Yes, it's a wonderful game. Yes, it's the best RPG ever. Yes, it has a great story, great visuals, excellent voice acting, a kick-ass opening movie, and so on. Is it ART?

 

[secondchildren]

There's an extremely influential American movie critic who is arguing that video games cannot be art. He's not arguing that he's never played a game that qualifies as art; he's arguing that video games CAN'T be art.So, I was wondering, do you consider The Witcher to be art?Yes, it's a wonderful game. Yes, it's the best RPG ever. Yes, it has a great story, great visuals, excellent voice acting, a kick-ass opening movie, and so on. Is it ART?

Okay, I'm an artist, you know, it's my life, it's my job. So I'm not "super partes".Talking about ANY videogames in general, yes, they ARE ART!Even if a few can see it, there's a huge work behind games:-environmental concept design-character concept design-monster\enemy concept-weapon-armor-clothes concept design-music -atmosphere and photography-cinematic and direction-light and colors-screenplay for conversation and the main story -scripting for the ingame books and notes-animation-adaptation...and many others I can't mention here.I think this is a brand new contemporary form of art, comparable to the classical ones like painting or composing music.I mean: do you consider movies and c artoons art too? Videogames are the same.If someone do not understand this...well, i think they're simply idiots and bigots.

 

[Seeker.217]

Well to me TW is art from the story telling point of view to the blade of grass.I agree with secondchildrenThere was a time when Movie where not considered art but in time even that change.Like a old cowboy ones said I may not know much about art but I know what I like

 

[cassandra31eee]

And, here it goes again, movie critics... I won't start expressing my opinion of them.Corylea, i usually don't participate in conversations "what is art". But, i will tell you what is art for me.*peace*I 'm a ceramist. I have seen many works in galleries or photos. As much as i know how difficult, long lasting, tiring, mind and body breaking is to finish a work, i really don't care. The result is what matters to me. I won't ever make an object just to be praised from other ceramists on its technical difficulty. I want my art to make people who know nothing about it, look at it. I want to make others forget about themselves and their lives, for a glorious moment; just for a blink of the eye, it would be enough. Then, i 'll know that i did something good.The fact that i will choose a piece of soil and the fire to do so, won't concern anyone. A photographer choose the camera and the light, a painter the colors and an empty surface, a sculptor a rock. Yes, The Witcher is art.

 

[gorthuar]

Of course The Witcher is Art. And much better then some pieces of "Modern Art" I was unfortunate to see. Compared to these, all video games are Art. As are all movies, all comic books and all cartoons. Some are just better then others I thank you for your timeGorthuar of MirtheMaster or Arcane Magick

 

[secondchildren]

Of course The Witcher is Art. And much better then some pieces of "Modern Art" I was unfortunate to see. Compared to these, all video games are Art. As are all movies, all comic books and all cartoons. Some are just better then others I thank you for your timeGorthuar of MirtheMaster or Arcane Magick

Master, you really hear me

 

[Corylea.723]

Like a old cowboy once said I may not know much about art but I know what I like

I like you, but that doesn't make you art.

And, here it goes again, movie critics... I won't start expressing my opinion of them.

For most of them, I agree with you. The reason why I'm noticing what Mr. Ebert has to say is because he's the rare movie critic whose opinions I respect; I feel as if I get more out of a movie after listening to what he has to say. But in this instance, he has his head up his, er, I mean, he's sadly mistaken. And it's sad to see someone I usually respect say something that's SO wrong.

Corylea, i usually don't participate in conversations "what is art". But, i will tell you what is art for me.*peace*

I guess that means that I shouldn't comment on your definition, then. Thanks for sharing it, anyway.

I 'm a ceramist.

Oooh, nifty! Do you have pictures of your work?

Okay, I'm an artist, you know, it's my life, it's my job.

And you're a good one, too.

So I'm not "super partes".

I'm afraid I don't know what this means.

Talking about ANY videogames in general, yes, they ARE ART!Even if a few can see it, there's a huge work behind games:-environmental concept design-character concept design-monster\enemy concept-weapon-armor-clothes concept design-music -atmosphere and photography-cinematic and direction-light and colors-screenplay for conversation and the main story -scripting for the ingame books and notes-animation-adaptation...and many others I can't mention here.

Yes, an enormous amount of work and craft goes into making a game (tell me about it!). But craft isn't the same thing as art. Mr. Ebert argues that a movie CAN be art but that few of them actually are; most of them are just crafted entertainments. Of course, he fails to define art, but like Cassandra, I think that nitpicking about what art is would be boring. Of course, it may not be possible to have a meaningful discussion without defining it. Still, if there's a difference between art and craft -- which is not to denigrate craft -- then I'd guess that art has meaning, whereas craft is just pretty or skillful. Again, this is not to denigrate craft; things that are pretty or skillful can have great value.

I think this is a brand new contemporary form of art, comparable to the classical ones like painting or composing music.I mean: do you consider movies and c artoons art too? Videogames are the same.

Like Ebert, I think that SOME movies are art. Unlike him, I think that SOME videogames are, too.

If someone do not understand this...well, i think they're simply idiots and bigots.

Ebert is usually open-minded, intelligent, and humanitarian. But in this case, yes, he's being an idiot and a bigot. That's why watching him do it hurts.If anybody wants to tell him how wrong he is, the link to do so is in the original post.Do I think The Witcher is art? I guess it won't be a shock to hear me say yes. I don't think that ALL video games are art, though clearly all are craft. But The Witcher is special, and the things about it that are special lift it to the realm of art. (For me. I speak for me. Others may differ.) On the other hand, (to take my own mod as an example, so that I don't insult any other modders) I think that "Medical Problems" is craft, not art. I think (if I may toot my own horn for a moment) that it's well-done craft, but I don't think it rises to the level of art.

 

[secondchildren]

"Super partes" means "over the parts", meaning that you're neutral. I'm not as you can see.Mr Ebert is right when saying that only some movies are GOOD art. And there's obviously a difference between art and craft, for sure. Same for toons, comics and videogames of course. What makes art and what doesn't is hard to explain. In my opinion, it all depends on what something makes you feel, which emotions gives to you. I mean: what do you feel when playing TW, DA:O, Diablo II or anything else? Can you taste the atmosphere? Can you notice something very original, different fron anything else you've played\seen before? Can you symphatize with the world, the characters, the story, the backgrounds?If it's so, "that" is art. Art mostly depends on feelings.What I do not share with Mr. Ebert is when he says that videogames cannot be art at all. As you said, it depends on which videogames we're talking about. There is also this fact: sometimes we artist do the very best of ourselves to contribute in something like a comics, toon, movie or anything else. Sometimes, despise all our efforts and our good proposals the result is poor, mostly because there are a lot of things that contribute to make a product and we cannot control the most of them. They depend on publishers and editors which for the most of the times are not artists and do their choices based on marketing rules. They must sell, it's their goal, you know. Here's when something starts like a good piece of art and lowd to very avarage craft. I could tell you more about this (since I've experienced on my skin so many times) but I'm digressing so better stop now.And for the record, there's a lot of nice art in craft too (I'm thinking about tailorings, dressmaking, pottery, shoemakings, fanmade modules for videogames etc....) About MP:I disagree, I do not consider it it craft. It's a small piece of art in my opinion, coz you put inside something of yourself, a small piece of your life and you're heart. Anyone can see this while playing. Well, at least is what I felt when I did. I mean: I've seen a bit of America and a bit of yourself in the both NPCs and the story. It may be not perfect but that doesn't mean that is not art. This is exactly the case I was talking about some lines before, that there's art in craft too. @Cassandra:Could we see something of yours, please? I would like so much

 

[cassandra31eee]

I guess that means that I shouldn't comment on your definition, then. Thanks for sharing it, anyway.

No, it means that i want to give you something (an answer to your question), but i can only give you my humble opinion.

Do I think The Witcher is art? I guess it won't be a shock to hear me say yes. I don't think that ALL video games are art, though clearly all are craft. But The Witcher is special, and the things about it that are special lift it to the realm of art.

Not all video games are art, in my opinion too. As, of course, not all movies. And not all songs. I have seen art in video games, not only in The Witcher. A resent example is the Russian creation (adventure? I don't know what to say about this game) The Void. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_nnl5JS0cI@Corylea and secondchildren

Do you have pictures of your work?

Could we see something of yours, please? I would like so much

Thank you. Oh, dear, this makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't have anything to show you. I don't have a studio yet. Maybe some day...

 

[Corylea.723]

@Corylea and secondchildren

Do you have pictures of your work?

Could we see something of yours, please? I would like so much

Thank you. Oh, dear, this makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't have anything to show you. I don't have a studio yet. Maybe some day...

Sorry to make you uncomfortable, hon. We weren't trying to be demanding, just trying to show an interest in your work.[/QUOTE]

 

[username_2090060]

There's an extremely influential American movie critic who is arguing that video games cannot be art. He's not arguing that he's never played a game that qualifies as art; he's arguing that video games CAN'T be art.

lets not forget that this critic doesnt have the best track record. he likes to give great reviews to crappy movies, as long as the starlet is a big bussomed blonde. seriously, he and Russ Myers were such good friends...h would give myers crappy movies a thumbs up, as long as he got to meet (and in some cases even more) the bombshells. I have no respect for his opinion whatsoever. I remember when Siskel died, i watched his new show and found myself thinking "I know where all the talent in that show was, and now its dead"Now Leonard Maltin on the other hand...he wrote the frickin movie bible, and personally reviewed damn near every movie ever made. and hes not a big fat slob like EbertExamples of Games as Art - ill try to be spoiler freeIco - anyone whos played this game knows what im talkin about, super emotional ending (i shed a tear)Final Fantasy X - who didnt get choked up at the end?obviously, The Witcher - great story, but the architecture of the castle and just the feel of the world did it for me.many , many others...if Movies are considered "art" then who in thier right mind would say VG's are NOT? tell that to Jake Gyllenhall when hes rolling in the dough from hisVG movie...or the opposite - remember the BOND game that was an official part of the series - Everything or Nothing. my point is that the only people to say that video games arent art are those who have NEVER played one, or someone looking for some cheap free publicity.

 

[username_2075278]

There's an extremely influential American movie critic who is arguing that video games cannot be art. He's not arguing that he's never played a game that qualifies as art; he's arguing that video games CAN'T be art.So, I was wondering, do you consider The Witcher to be art?

I expressed my opinion that The Witcher is art a long time ago; the more I've worked with it the more convinced I am of it. I think, specifically in the context of film criticism, it bears comparison with Kurosawa.

 

[petra_silie]

Is the Witcher art? If yes or no, at all events it's an achievement, otherwise it wouldn't have received (grammar? ;-D ) so many award and good reviews. Maybe The Witcher wasn't made to aim a praise in art but it fulfilled all other categories of a video game. I don't mind if someone doesn't consider The Witcher as art. The Witcher videogame is something extra ordinary but not a jack of all trades.It's similar with sport... RL sport and e-sports, Yes, e-sports even has a league and there are also olympics though I don't have the exact title in mind. There are many poeple who deny e-sports because that's no sport. Sure you can't complare a RL formula 1 champion with a virtual formula 1 champion but both have bests in their field of activity.

 

[wisielec]

So what do you call it when a field of artists fom different departments stand behind the creation?a conglomerate?

 

[secondchildren]

So what do you call it when a field of artists fom different departments stand behind the creation?a conglomerate?

LOL Well, you know, in my country, comics artists and cartoonists\animators are barely considered. Italians think that comics and toons are for kids only and that the artists behind them are "kids-and-aimless-daydreamers", or to call 'em one word, idlers. Not to mention about videogames...... but every italians have read at leat one comics, watched one toon, play videogames constantly...It's a matter of culture and education in my opinion *shrug*My parents still do not believe that I've got a job and that my work it's actually "a job". They see me like a visionary kid.

 

[rangarkash]

It's funny how he implies that marketing somehow makes a game less of a piece of art. Perhaps he thinks that the artists of the Renaissance had no monetary concerns when they made their works? Honestly, I don't understand his criticism. Games focus on several artforms, the same way as plays do. Is the level of interactivity with the art the problem? Then perhaps modern theater should completely forego interaction with the public, and aknowledging their role as spectators (and sometimes inpromptu characters). Or if he is allergic to computer code, perhaps he'd rather listen to his favorite orchestras in the great outdoors, as opposed to a building whose architecture is geared towards improving accoustics. Frankly, I think he's attacking videogames because he dislikes the methods involved in their making, and doesn't realise how art draws from technological achievement.

 

[fchopin]

I think the question should be can games be considered as art before answering is the witcher art.If you take any game you find that most use music, painting, storytelling and all the rest which are considered to be art or artistic so on that basis the answer is yes.If you are asking if a game as a package all in one is art then that is more difficult to answer as there is no definition at the moment for such a thing.So to answer the question for a packaged game as art, then i don’t know the answer, will have to think on this for a few weeks.

 

[deejrandom]

Hmm *strokes beard thoughtfully*The question isn't "Is the witcher art" but should be "Is Art the witcher?"Because I've had my eye on Art... he is albino and drinks alot. And I swear he sleeps with alot of women.Yes yes. That sounds like the right question!

 

[cassandra31eee]

*laughs*Deejrandom, this is a post i 'll remember. Thank you!

 

[deejrandom]

*laughs*Deejrandom, this is a post i 'll remember. Thank you!

Thanks! Art is a sneaky SOB