Can a Video Game Be a Work of Art? - Jason Yan

    If you were to ask anyone if a drawing, music, or a story is art, most people would say yes. Many video games incorporate all of these features into an experience that you can play through. However, this is a very controversial question, possibly since video games are relatively new compared to other art forms, like music, or drawing. Video games are becoming more and more visually stunning every year, and we've gone from 2d games like pong to almost life-like video games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Cyberpunk 2077. people might not think that pong is art, because of how simple it is, but proving that a video game is art gets more complicated in more modern games, that have vivid imagery, amazing music, and detailed and compelling storylines.

(Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020)

    As technology and things like graphics cards, processors, and other technological components progress, the amount of detail and realism that can be rendered will keep going up. I think that it is very possible that at some point, our technology could be so advanced, that it would be hard to tell the difference from real life to a video game. This leads to the question of where to draw the line between art and not art.

     My definition of art would be something that captures creativity and can be expressed to others and interpreted by others. According to Merriam Webster, art is "the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects", which in my opinion, fits video games, as video games are created with skill and creative imagination. If you check more definitions online, you will see that video games match most pretty well. Video games incorporate different types of art, so why shouldn't it count as art? Why is the statement that video games can be a work of art such a disputed statement?

    Jonathan Jones on The Guardian says: "A work of art is one person's reaction to life", and that "it has to be an act of personal imagination", and half I agree with this, because I don't think that it necessarily has to be a single person like he is implying, because what if multiple people work on a painting, or a drawing. Additionally, I feel like he is giving it that definition to use it against the statement that video games are art. Jonathan Jones later goes on to say that "No one 'owns' the game, so there is no artist, and therefore no work of art", but I disagree since there is usually always an individual or company that behind a video game.

    Another article from The Guardian responds to the article by Jonathan Jones. In that article, Keith Stuart says: "What is art? What isn't? It is a fool's errand, really, and when applied to video games, there can only be one true and valid response: does it really matter?", and Dan Pinchbeck, a lecturer in computer games and creative technologies, says: "I don't think its actually a very interesting question. I don't think games need to aspire to being art, like art is an inherently more worthwhile form of cultural expression". What Dan Pinchbeck says really resonates with me, since art comes in all forms, and it occurred to me that the video game industry has become so large, that video games may as well be classified as a separate section of art, among paintings and music.

    So, what is the answer to the question of if video games are art? In my opinion, many video games can be classified as art, because they fit my definition of art: something that captures creativity and can be expressed to others and interpreted by others. However, everyone has a different definition of words based on their own knowledge and experiences, and art is one of those words that will have very different definitions for everybody. In addition, the world is constantly changing, and definitions will be too. So, what do you think? Are video games a form of art or not?

    

Sources:

Merriam-Webster. “Art Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art. 

D'Anastasio, Cecilia. Airplane Flying above a City. WIRED, 21 Aug. 2020, www.wired.com/story/flight-simulator-2020-uncanny-escapism/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2022.

Jones, Jonathan. "Sorry MoMA, video games are not art." The Guardian, 30 Nov. 2012. The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/nov/30/moma-video-games-art. Accessed 24 Oct. 2022.

Stuart, Keith. "Are video games art: the debate that shouldn't be." The Guardian, 6 Dec. 2012. The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/dec/06/video-games-as-art. Accessed 24 Oct. 2022.

Heaven Official's Blessing: Exploring Xie Lian

Heaven Official’s Blessing, also known as Tian Guan Ci Fu (TGCF), follows the life of the martial god Xie Lian and his last worshiper. The Chinese novel takes place in a world with mortals, who can ascend to godhood or descend to become ghosts. Xie Lian begins his mortal life as the beloved crown prince of a prosperous nation, and quickly ascends to godhood. However, after getting involved in mortal affairs, he is banished from Heaven after violating the rules of godhood and all but one of his thousands of followers abandons him. Xie Lian becomes Heaven’s laughingstock; a prince hated by his own people, a god fallen to a beggar. After another round of ascension, banishment, and ascension again, Xie Lian returns to Heaven for another bout of adventure and tragedy (like he needs any more baggage). I haven’t finished the novel yet, but Xie Lian’s character arc is one of my favorites, and there’s still so much left to explore.

The book begins during Xie Lian’s third ascension. Without knowing much of his backstory, he seems straightforward enough: always smiling, slightly awkward, humbled, and sweet. His innocent aura and history of scrap collecting and street performing set him apart from the other heavenly officials. However, when the unflinching Xie Lian who never raises his voice or his sword breaks character when reunited with his cousin-turned-demon Qi Rong, everything starts to unravel.

The story flashes back to 800 years ago, during Xie Lian’s first ascension. Xie Lian is spoiled by his parents, adored by the people of Xian Le, and idolized by Qi Rong. When internal conflict begins in his kingdom, he descends to help despite being forbidden to meddle in mortal affairs. However, the fate of Xian Le is already sealed, and Xie Lian fighting for his kingdom only leads to new problems to preserve the predetermined destiny. As the people of Xian Le begin realizing Xie Lian is powerless, they use him as their scapegoat. For the first time, Xie Lian utterly breaks down and his mask of perfection crumbles. What made the scene most impactful was who it portrayed. Xie Lian, who always faces problems head-on, rarely shows extreme emotion, and one of the strongest characters in the novel, finally gives up. The author paints the picture of Xie Lian losing himself and slowly being driven up the wall so incredibly, and the cracks in his composure hit especially hard with the insight of his present state. 800 years later, he acts as if his past doesn’t affect him at all but subtle signs of his trauma are present. He shows even less emotion and acts as if any level of hardship is nothing to him.

After going back to the current timeline, I could finally see the weight in Xie Lian’s constant smile and my entire perception of him shifted. I loved him before for his wholesomeness, and now I love his character more knowing his story and how he carries himself despite it. Even though he is a literal god, Xie Lian has flaws, trauma, and is unlike any character I’ve read before (not just any traditional cinnamon roll, but a multifaceted cinnamon roll with a story). All his little mannerisms and different sides really bring him to life and make his character vivid. I haven’t finished the story yet but I’ve already been sucked into the wondrous world of Xie Lian, and I can tell there’s still so much left to discover!

- Sabrina

Should the Death Penalty be Abolished?

 Should the Death Penalty be Abolished? By Ruby Mitchell

The death penalty is a type of legal punishment that has been around since the colonial ages, though lately, there has been a lot of discourse around whether it’s fair or not. I love debating about this subject because you never really know what someone's stance is. With a lot of other worldly issues, you can usually predict what someone’s viewpoint is based on their political views, but people tend to have mixed views on the death penalty because of its moral ambiguity. This debate poses a difficult moral question that makes you wonder about what rights to comfort and choice we should give to someone who has committed a crime as terrible as murder.

A majority of Americans favor the death penalty. The “Survey of U.S. adults”, conducted in 2021, concluded that 60% of U.S. adults were in favor of the death penalty. The most commonly used argument in favor of the death penalty is something along the lines of “The murderer deserves it”. Lots of people argue that the families of the victims deserve closure, and one of the best ways to do that is to kill the murderer, an eye for an eye. Others use the argument that the death penalty is cheaper and more efficient than feeding a murderer for life, but the consensus around all of these arguments is that the murderer does not deserve to live. 

Even though the people who want to abolish the death penalty are the minority, they have many arguments for their cause. The most common argument is that the death penalty is inhumane and violates the law against cruel and unusual punishment. They argue that the death penalty violates the right to life, which is the most basic human right. Another popular argument is that there is a chance of killing an innocent person via the death penalty. The American justice system is notorious for putting innocent people in jail (predominantly affecting people of color), so there is a likelihood that someone killed via the death penalty could be innocent. This might not seem very likely, but since 1973, 184 people have been released from death row on grounds of innocence. That’s 184 people who would’ve been killed if it wasn't proven that they were innocent. Statistics like these make you wonder how many people currently on death row are innocent, and how many innocent people have already been executed. Unlike a jail sentence, where you can let someone out if you wrongly judged them, the death penalty is irreversable, and an innocent person could be killed. 

I believe that the death penalty should be abolished. Killing more people doesn’t lead to a better and more just world, it just leads to more grief. A point that I don't see many people bring up is the family of the person on death row. Even though the family of a murderer does not agree with what their relative has done and probably finds it disgusting, that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t grieve for the death of a person they love. Not to mention the families of innocent people on death row who have to watch their beloved family member get killed because of an unjust legal system. Another reason I think the death penalty should be abolished is that no one should die at the hands of another person, not even a murderer. When murderers are killed by the death penalty it does make me wonder, how is the government any better than the murderer? Inmates on death row often have to wait decades for their execution which is in and of itself a form of cruel torture. They have to wait for the scheduled day of their execution with no contact to the outside world except limited visitations with family. I believe that the prison system uses the death penalty as more of a threat than an attempt to serve justice. Life in prison is a fair punsihment for killing someone, but the death penalty takes it way too far and brings too much unwanted and unneeded pain and grief into an already somber situation. The death penalty is cruel and unjust and does more harm than good, and I believe that the world would be a better place if it was abolished.

"https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/02/ most-americans-favor-the-death-penalty-despite-concerns-about-its-administration/." Pew Research Center, 2 June 2021, www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/02/

most-americans-favor-the-death-penalty-despite-concerns-about-its-administration/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2022.

Head, Tom. "5 Arguments in Favor of the Death Penalty." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.

com/arguments-for-the-death-penalty-721136.

"Why the Death Penalty Should Be Abolished." International Commission against Death Penalty, icomdp.org/why-the-death-penalty-should-be-abolished/ #:~:text=The%20death%20penalty%20violates%20the,inherent%20to%20every%20human%20being. Accessed 20 Oct. 2022.

The Martian: A Uniquely Realistic Sci-fi Novel

 

The Martian is a science fiction book published in 2011. The author, Andy Weir is a computer programmer who also writes science fiction novels. I first read it for a book report in sixth grade, and what I found most interesting about the book is the high degree of detail and scientific realism in the book. Though the book is science fiction, none of the technology in the book is impossible or made up for plot convenience and the author takes time to explain the science behind everything that happens in the book.

The plot of The Martian follows Mark Watney, an American astronaut who is stranded on Mars after he is injured in a dust storm and the crew of his mission is forced to evacuate without him using their only rocket that can reach orbit. He has limited food, water and oxygen, cannot communicate with Earth, and is thought to be dead by everybody at mission control. However, he still has hope. At his base, there is still a working rover, solar panels, and machines for recycling air and water. He uses the resources he has to survive as long as possible. He salvages a broken Mars rover and uses its radio to communicate with Earth so mission control can try to rescue him. He even grows potatoes using Martian soil and water that he created using a chemical reaction. To get off Mars, he must make a long, difficult journey through the desert to an uninhabited Mars base, where there is another rocket that he can use to escape.

The way the book is presented is very interesting. Most of the story is told through the stranded astronaut’s journal entries, which allows you to understand his thought process better. It also gives you a better sense of his personality, since you get to hear the story through his own words. The book is only written in third person when something important is happening which helps build tension. 

One of my favorite things about the Martian is the amount of scientific detail included in the book. For example, about halfway through the book, there is a scene in which Watney is almost killed when a hole forms in his base’s airlock, causing a violent explosion. For the whole chapter before this, the book describes how the part of the airlock that broke and caused the explosion was made, and how it became defective. This is not only interesting, but also provides foreshadowing for the explosion. The book also explains in detail how Watney solves the problems he faces. At one point, Watney is trying to build a makeshift garden in his base so he does not run out of food. However, he does not have enough spare water to grow his crops. So, he has to make some. So, he uses a spare canister of hydrogen fuel, which he reacts with oxygen in the air to create water. These small details help make the story more believable, and reading the story through the stranded astronaut’s own journal entries help you empathize with his situation and the challenges he faces.

-Will

How The Three Body Problem Explores Out Of This World Topics

    Published in 2006, The Three Body Problem is a science fiction book originally written by Liu Cixin in Chinese and translated to English by Ken Liu. One thing I found interesting about this book is that the whole plot is almost fully explained on the back of the cover, which suggests to me that the author did not write the book for the story, but maybe for provoking thoughts or new ideas.

    The plot revolves around an advanced alien species called the Trisolarans, living on Trisolaris, a planet that is living in a Three-body Problem, which is a physics problem,

and these Trisolarians are looking for a new inhabitable planet. Their planet is extremely dangerous, because their planet has 3 suns, and they suffer from extreme heat, unpredictable weather, and eventually will be swallowed up by the sun, so they need to escape. When a scientist named Ye Wenjie on earth manages to broadcast radio waves across the universe using the sun, the Trisolarans receive it, and begin migrating to earth. Ye Winjie later starts organization, Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO), that consists of people who are angry at society and think that the Trisolarans should take over the earth. They buy a giant ship, Judgement Day, which serves as a sort of mobile colony and a listening post for members of the ETO. This group eventually splits up into 3 factions, the Adventists, who want to humanity destroyed by the Trisolarans, the Redemptionists, who want to help the Trisolarans to find a solution to their three suns, and the Survivors, who want to help the Trisolarans so that their own descendants can survive. While this may seem like the beginning of the plot, the main plot being when the Trisolarans arrive, however, this is pretty much the entire basics of the story, the Trisolarans won't arrive for a few hundred years, and we as a reader don't even know very much about them yet. 

    The main character of the story, Wang, is a nanotechnology professor who works on developing nanotechnology. Wang is asked to work with Shi Qiang, a detective, to investigate the deaths of many scientists, including Ye Wenjie's daughter. A few days after this Wang starts experiencing "hallucinations" in the form of a countdown. During this period, Wang also finds out about a game called "Three Body". The game is a virtual reality game made by the ETO to recruit new members, and this game can also simulate real life senses like feeling pain or heat. This game portrays how the Trisolarans had to go extinct many times in order to progress far enough to survive the extreme weather of their planet, and the game Trisolaran history to represent it as human history. After completing this game, you get invited to join the ETO, and Wang joins, uncovering the deaths of the scientists. 

    After Wang uncovers the ETO, the government invades the ETO and their cargo ship that contains all the data sent from the Trisolarans. Using Wangs nanotechnology wire to cut through the ship, since even though some technology may be cut, it can be easily reassembled because the wire is so thin that it cuts cleanly without breaking anything. Now comes the hard part to explain. From the invasion they find out that the Trisolarans have picotechnology that allows them to create 11-dimensional supercomputers called sophons that have volume of a proton in 3 dimensions. The Trisolarans sent two of the sophons to Earth, and they have power to cause hallucinations, spy on anything that happens on Earth, transmit the information gathered back to Trisolaris using quantum entanglement, and also mess with Earth's particle accelerators. The Trisolarans wanted to mess with the particle accelerators because they thought that since it would take hundreds of years for Trisolarans to arrive at Earth, humanity would develop technology advanced enough defend the Trisolarans and figured that making the accelerators give random results will stop humanity from making further scientific achievements. At the end Shi the detective and Wang go to Bejing to prepare against the Trisolarans.

    While this story does have an interesting plot, and it does continue the story into 2 more books, I do not think that it was primarily meant to entertain. My theory is that the author, Liu Cixin wrote this book to provoke thoughts, and to make the reader really think about situations like this. The events in the book could be fitted in a fraction of the book, but the author included details that are not really necessary to the plot, but really make you think, like how Trisolarans used people communicating between each other to create a rudimentary computer to complete complex math problems, and how not allowing particle accelerators, a key steppingstone in science, to give proper results, could stop a civilization from progressing. I also thought about how when nanotechnology sliced through something, it would not damage it because the nanotechnology could just slice through without moving anything, how this could be useful, how you could fit a giant object into the size of a proton by using picotechnology and different dimensions, and also what this could be used for. For days after reading the book, my mind was full of ideas and thoughts about Trisolaris, the ETO, nanotechnology, picotechnology and more, and even while I wrote this blog, some new ideas popped into my head. I love the fact that the author included so many scientific hypothesizes and theories like picotechnology that I would never have learned about or cared to learn about. I feel like this is an amazing book to read for a new perspective on humanity, Earth, and the universe. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book for fun, to learn, or to gather new ideas.

-Jason