Smithsonian To Unveil The Art Of Video Games Exhibit
See Full ImageThere was a time when Pong could fascinate the hell out of a family. There was also a time not long after that when the industry all but disappeared forever (look up the Big Video Game Crash on Wiki, if you need to).
But things have changed a great deal and nowadays, video games are ingrained in our culture and are enjoying a huge surge of popularity. It's also gaining ground in terms of legitimacy amongst the mainstream crowds and more experts are recognizing gaming for what it is: an artistic medium. If you need proof, there's no better evidence than the exhibit that will run between March 16, 2012 and September 9, 2012 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum: The Art of Video Games, inspired by over three decades of growing creativity, imagination and innovation. The description of the exhibit is as follows:
"Many museums have explored art inspired by video games, but this exhibition will be the first to examine comprehensively the evolution of video games themselves as an artistic medium. From the Atari VCS to the Playstation 3, The Art of Video Games will show the development of visual effects and aesthetics during four decades, the emergence of games as a means for storytelling, the influence of world events and popular culture on game development, and the impact that the games can have on society. It will include multimedia presentations of game footage, video interviews with developers and artists, large prints of in-game screen shots, historic game consoles, and a selection of working game systems for visitors to play. In addition, the public will be asked to assist with the selection of materials for the show by choosing the games that they feel best represent particular moments in the overall timeline."
That right there ought to make you feel proud and in some ways, a little vindicated. How many times have you tried to tell the disbelieving parent that gaming was more than what they think it is? How many times have you heard conversations concerning movies and music at get-togethers, only to think, "why can't video games be included in the discussion?" It's still over two years away but the announcement of this exhibit really is like a beacon for veteran gamers.
12/8/2009 9:45:31 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (48 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:01:23 PM
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3 up, 1 down
Riku994
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:11:57 PM
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0 up, 2 down
tes37
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:18:14 PM
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3 up, 1 down
Kowhoho
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:22:00 PM
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I've given up trying to impress my dad though; I had him take a look at Uncharted 2 and he said, "well you can still tell it's a game by lookin at it." They just don't understand us gamers! :,(
1 up, 1 down
Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:34:49 PM
5 up, 1 down
Kowhoho
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:47:12 PM
0 up, 1 down
Superman915
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:26:09 PM
0 up, 2 down
LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:45:24 PM
1 up, 1 down
Xbox_Killer
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 2:10:46 AM
0 up, 1 down
shaydey77
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 10:12:13 AM
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:39:01 PM
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You are absolutely right. I don't even squirm any more when video games are just left by the wayside in conversations. But you know what I DO see more and more of? Someone ELSE is squirming. Someone ELSE in the group wants to talk games. The numbers are growing Ben. The numbers are growing... and soon, we will have our day.
3 up, 1 down
Kowhoho
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:50:49 PM
"They will know, that Earth belongs to the Gamers..."
BUH!
2 up, 1 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:02:44 PM
1 up, 1 down
shaydey77
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 10:13:41 AM
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 5:28:19 PM
Can I get a Booyah! ?
2 up, 0 down
Solid Fantasy
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 10:59:06 PM
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1 up, 1 down
___________
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:10:18 PM
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i really cant.
i went to the laser clinic today, and was chatting up one of the ladies there.
and she asked me what i was studying at tafe, i told her programming.
and her instant response isent that a little geeky?
im sorry but this stereotype of games will never go away.
i told my parents what i want to study next year, i told them i want to do a game development class and my father almost bit my head off..
i really cant see this going away, it would be nice if it did but i really cant see that happening.
1 up, 1 down
Snaaaake
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:17:44 PM
Make your dream game in the future and share with us all!!
2 up, 1 down
Highlander
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 12:16:09 AM
Forget for the moment that the number of numerate degrees is shrinking in most western countries and that belief in the para-normal is rampant. Forget that more Americans than ever before believe in a literal 7 days of creation. Forget that the previous president thought that climate change was what happened in May when spring gave way to summer.
We live in an odd time when technology and science have never been more important to our society, and yet the understanding and trust in science is at a low point.
So yes, let the dullards call your programming course geeky, and celebrate the fact that you are gaining a technical education.
4 up, 1 down
LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 12:23:37 AM
0 up, 2 down
tes37
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 6:50:17 AM
5 up, 1 down
___________
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 7:21:26 AM
o please i dont understand how people can believe in that crap!
one thing that completley freaked me out, like nothing has scared me this much in my entire life.
i remember when my grandfather was really sick, i went to ask him if he wanted a coffee than left the room.
turned arround had no idea why, looked at him for what felt like a eternity than the words "goodbye grandpa" slipped out.
never did i think or never was i intending of doing that, it just slipped out.
and that was the last time i ever saw him.
not saying i believe in ghosts and such, but how do you explain that?
its like i knew it was the last time i was going to see him.
3 up, 3 down
Aftab
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 5:23:19 PM
And no sweat about your Dad. That's common behavior among a lot of fathers. He's more concerned about you paying your bills than living your dreams, because you'd be doing the latter on his expense while he'd be doing the former. And he'd probably blame everything that's wrong with his son on games, but if you show daily that your responsible with your life, he'd change his stance sooner or later.
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 10:28:26 PM
6 + 1 = 7
...speaking literally of course...
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Friday, December 11, 2009 @ 4:21:38 PM
Also, willful ignorance is not limited to rejection of science.
On topic: suck it, Roger Ebert.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 12/11/2009 4:30:43 PM
0 up, 0 down
BTNwarrior
Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 11:41:01 PM
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0 up, 1 down
Highlander
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 12:17:03 AM
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2 up, 1 down
Arvis
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 3:35:14 PM
-Arvis
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Highlander
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 9:16:01 PM
Somewhere I have a much different picture of her that I will pair up with my old Kos-mos one. That should make for a great avatar.
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NeoHumpty
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 12:30:32 AM
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2 up, 1 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 3:49:38 AM
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0 up, 2 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 3:57:21 AM
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3 up, 2 down
geovanwitdakick
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 7:42:16 AM
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0 up, 1 down
SvenMD
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 8:05:53 AM
Not to be confused with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park,
or the MoMA,
or the Guggenheim,
or the Whitney Museum of American Art....
Hey, maybe we can take a psxextreme field trip.
Good times.
3 up, 1 down
Squirreldriver
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 1:56:19 PM
3 up, 0 down
RadioHeader
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 7:54:28 AM
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Just three little decades... we are all noobs! What wonders does the future hold?
0 up, 1 down
Thrill Kill
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 8:37:27 AM
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NeoHumpty
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 10:00:25 AM
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3 up, 0 down
Squirreldriver
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 2:00:30 PM
2 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 8:45:53 PM
it's just a tiny pea-sized 8 year troll with a really giant set of 18 inch thumbs.
That's why he has so much trouble holding them in any of the more natural up-right positions.
0 up, 0 down
BigBoss4ever
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 2:03:31 PM
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Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 12/9/2009 2:03:52 PM
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Banky A
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 8:12:09 PM
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1 up, 1 down
NeoHumpty
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 10:40:54 PM
1 up, 0 down
kevinater321
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Tuesday, December 08, 2009 @ 9:59:48 PM