#medium specificity

[muqaddasaman]

Blog 2 – Gesamtkunstwerk: The Artistic Core of Video Games 

In this blog, I will explore the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk within the realm of video games and assess its influence on their success. Additionally, I will examine different video game designs and their artistic approaches, comparing the success of those that embrace a holistic design philosophy with those that remain committed to medium specificity. 

The success of any video game is primarily dependent upon a single factor and that is how immersed the video game can make its player feel as if he is playing the game. If a video game is capable of isolating a player from reality and successfully drops them into the narrative alongside the characters, then the game is considered to be a success. This idea resonates with Richard Wagner's concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, which describes a work of art that integrates multiple art forms (Wagner, 2001) to captivate its audience—something video games consistently strive to achieve. 

Over the past decade, video games have made monumental strides in bridging the gap between our real world and the virtual world. Cutting-edge graphics and realistic visual effects make us question our own reality, while music and sound further blur these lines. Techniques like photogrammetry and real-time facial capture, once primarily used for lifelike character models, are now being applied to entire virtual environments, creating a level of realism we've never seen before. Furthermore, music has also been utilized in even greater capacity, where once short soundtracks would be used to fill the void nowadays whole orchestras and music bands are hired to create everything from simple sound effects to bombastic music for key high moments.  

In addition to these advancements, many other creators are employing diverse artistic methods and techniques to convey their art to the users including different art-styles, unique game mechanics and even using interactive hardware to produce the desired effects. All following Richard Wagnar’s idea that no one rich faculty of the separate arts will remain unused in the Gesamtkunstwerk of the Future (Wagner and William Ashton Ellis, 1994) proving once again the importance of Gesamtkunstwerk in video game design and development. 

One of my favorite examples of such a game is “Nier Automata” (2017), by PlatinumGames, that utilizes all the different art techniques and methods to not only to draw the players into the world but to also successfully convey the narrative that the creator so intricately formed. As its designer Takahisa Taura mentioned that the success of the game itself could largely be attributed to the fluidity of the art style and game mechanics that could evolve to suit the situation. From seamlessly blending 2D and 3D game art styles to utilizing the player’s actions and playstyle to change the world itself, the game masterfully makes the player question his actions, just as the creator had intended. 

It is not an easy task to achieve a level of immersion that makes the players question their personal decisions and actions in a make-believe world which, technically, does not even exist. Yet it's the utilization of all the different art forms and techniques that a piece of software can not only make you forget your surroundings but also ponder over your own decisions (Granic, Lobel and Engels, 2014).

In contrast, a 'pure' game, striving for medium specificity, reveals a clear difference not only in player immersion but also in their emotional response and engagement with the game. A prime example of this is the visual novel genre, which relies on static character models and text to convey its narrative. Players are often given the freedom to choose their adventure from a predetermined set of choices that lead to one of many pre-made endings. While this genre offers a unique approach, it has struggled to gain mainstream popularity, often serving as an introductory tool for aspiring game developers, utilized in risk-prone projects or as a medium for creators with limited time, skill, or budget. Very rarely do we see success in this genre and often that is attributed to a gimmick or mechanic that draws the curiosity of its fans. 

Personally, I view video games as an amalgamation of various art styles and mechanics that come together to stimulate the senses and emotions. It’s easy to see Gesamtkunstwerk—the combination of different art forms—as the true backbone of successful video games. While it’s certainly possible to create games that adhere to medium specificity and strive for purity, I believe doing so is akin to denying a game’s full potential. Unless a particular game demands such restraint, I would argue that it's unnecessary. Instead, I would always aim to achieve the perfect blend of arts to create something truly extraordinary. 

Sources 

Gamerant ed., (2016). Quantum Break is Biggest Selling, New Microsoft Studios IP in Current Generation. Available at: https://gamerant.com/quantum-break-best-selling-property-503/ [Accessed 16 Oct. 2024]. 

Granic, I., Lobel, A. and Engels, R.C.M.E. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. American Psychologist, [online] 69(1), pp.66–78. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034857. 

Wagner, R. and William Ashton Ellis (1994). The art-work of the future and other works. Lincoln, London: University of Nebraska Press. 

Wikipedia Contributors (2024). Gesamtkunstwerk. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesamtkunstwerk#Arts_and_Crafts_movement [Accessed 16 Oct. 2024]. 

[brainrotcharacters]

the easy grip on the knife. the leg over the seat. the hand over the other seat. the sassy "come get it" move. you know the bitch is smiling behind that mask even as he said the line.

[skunkes]

Traditional commission for a friend

ohuhu alcohol markers and polychromos colored pencils on 7 x 10 mixed media paper

[bixels]

As cameras becomes more normalized (Sarah Bernhardt encouraging it, grifters on the rise, young artists using it), I wanna express how I will never turn to it because it fundamentally bores me to my core. There is no reason for me to want to use cameras because I will never want to give up my autonomy in creating art. I never want to become reliant on an inhuman object for expression, least of all if that object is created and controlled by manufacturing companies. I paint not because I want a painting but because I love the process of painting. So even in a future where everyone’s accepted it, I’m never gonna sway on this.

if i have to explain to you that using a camera to take a picture is not the same as using generative ai to generate an image then you are a fucking moron.

[artbyblastweave]

One of my pet culture theories is that the worldbuilding energy that produced genuinely fresh settings like Star Wars and Star Trek and basically every other 80s nostalgiabait property that Hollywood has bleeding out on the cross these days has now more or less migrated to the video game space. Like that's where interesting mass market genre-fic worldbuilding is going to be happening now, instead of in film

[stitchposts]

This is so obvious it's almost petty to talk about, but it keeps happening so I am increasingly faced with needing to decide to bring it up. Can everyone who advocates for not reposting art and for crediting artists start bringing that same energy to photographs of traditional art? Especially fiber arts and sewing related things, due to very prolific scraping accounts that repost things from elsewhere on the internet here to tumblr and a few years ago stopped crediting the artists at all. They never asked permission, but credit has just dried up entirely and it's galling to see.

I know non fiber artists don't really have the experience to see this, but just like visual arts, fiber artists develop pretty clear styles. So if a blog is posting elaborate pieces of infamously time consuming arts that cover a wide range of styles, once or twice a day, with no credits or discussion of themselves as an artist - that shit's stolen as fuck.

It feels like I'm going insane sometimes because thousands of people who otherwise yell all day about how artists need to be credited, just think that sewing related photographs pop into existence without needing to be linked to the person that made them.

[stargirl230]

interlude

Lost focus and drew a consensual workplace relationship (the inherent intimacy of hanging out in an artist's studio to watch them exist in their element got to me)

Zoom in for details I poured my soul into <3

(no reposts; reblogs appreciated)

[elfcollector]

Don't leave me alone. Please...please take me home... — Okay, Shianni. Okay. Let's go home.

[johnnyshrine]

★ 107 // “Paint Brush Pen”

[bionicboxes]

I think a core internet experiences is- YES, people are allowed to not like or enjoy the thing *I* like, but they have to dislike it CORRECTLY.

If I watch a youtuber not read any dialogue and then complain about the story not making any sense I'm seething. If I see a youtuber read all the dialogue and then still be like 'this story is shit' I'm like 'lmao yeah fair.'

It's all about knowing that the person actually gave it a fair chance and aren't just going into it already disinterested

[fipindustries]

Another contrarian opinion i have is that, while i generally agree with " do it scared, do it badly, dont be afraid to tell a shitty story, etc etc" is that some stories deserve better than that.

Like, what a waste would it be, to have a masterpiece in you head and ruin it because you couldnt do it justice, just for the sake of having something done. Is it worth it? I mean yeah the alternative is doing nothing and that is a tragedy on its own, but some stories need to be more than just "done" as if they were a throwaway idea that can be stepped over in your path towards improvement.

[ariblair]

Deltarune fans, who are becoming obsessed with tv head characters. You guys NEED to read The Property of Hate, I'm just sayin', you might like what you'll see.

He's RGB, the second protagonist of the comic and i think he's REALLY neat.

And his slowly building father - daughter relationship with Hero is just adorable

Also he has this line:

The comic itself is unimaginably good, both in art and story.

So if you like smart writing full of puns, a heart warming character dynamic, and lots of other stuff (hehe), please go read this comic (it's free and has its own website), and support its author, modman, who also is on tumblr!

[vargaslovinghours]

Say it like you mean it

[oranglesswrld]

i don't think ive seen this discussed but everytime i think about it it makes my brain explode anyway in securite kepler calls jacobi his good right hand and then in into the depths, where jacobi's trust in kepler starts to fracture post contact event is also when kepler loses his hand. the script even points out it's the right one. love tangible manifestations of character relationships

[comradecowplant]

me when people try to explain a blorbo i just cannot be asked to care about: