Presentation - Video Game: Are they art? (Case study : Okami)

Introduction of the game:

• •Name: Ōkami
• •released date: In 2006 in Japan
• •Publisher: Capcom
• Content: This game was made by the combination of several Japanese myths and legends and folklore to tell the story of how the land was saved by Shinto sun goddess. (The white wolf)

This trailer of this game:

Content - Why Okami can be count as art?

1. The story - Legend:

According to Adams' statement, art should be expressed something and have the capacity to express ideas. In this game, the story was followed and developed by the Japanese classic legend; the main characters also were inspired from Japanese historical figures. For example, a major plot of the eight-headed serpent recreated as the character. The following pictures are the Japanese classic image of the eight-headed serpent and the new created image in Okami.

Tradition image



 

Image in Okami



Besides, the creater use a interactive way to express the Japanese classic culture, because player can have further understanding of Japanese classic legend through playing this game.

2. Brush Stroke:

Moreover, I think that the video game can be count as art, it should not only focus on science and technology, it also can integrate science and technology and cultural domain as process. Okami can achieve this point of view. It is because Okami  features a distinct visual style and the Celestial Brush, a gesture-system to perform miracles. We can discover that on the "Celestial Brush" and the scene, the traditional writing brush stroke is the main skill in this game.

The special function - "Celestial Brush", same with writing brush



The scene in Okami



•

Besides, the writing brush stroke is not only for providing a visual entertainment. The creater said that he wants the player can try to appreciate the traditional drawing and the beautiful scene that create with the calligraphic brush stroke.

3. Aesthetic - Gagaku:

Okami was different from other video game, it added some special music - Gagaku, a type of Japanese classic music in the game. This music was introduced into Japan with Buddhism from China.

The music in Okami

The game coordinated the Japanese classic style in this game because music is easy to evoke traditional Japanese art as much as the graphics do and the player can feel the tradition Japanese art through this music.


References:
Grant Tavinor,The Art of Videogames (John Wiley and Sons, 2009) 
Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell, Video game and art (Intellect Books, 2007)
http://www.okami-game.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckami

It is reasonable to consider computer game as art?

1. How does Adams define art? Do you agree with his definition?


Accroding to Adams, he said that" literary arts: writing and drama, which are characterized by the presence of narrative. Film and television also belong to the literary arts. Then there are the fine arts: sculpture and painting, music and dance. There are also the decorative arts: wallpaper, fabrics and furnishings. Architecture is regarded by some as a form of art, and industrial design, is not really art so much as it is an aesthetic applied to utilitarian objects. The boundaries between art and non-art are not hard and fast; there is a grey area."


- literary arts: writing and drama; film and television
- fine arts: sculpture and painting, music and dance
- decorative arts: wallpaper, fabrics and furnishings
- form of art: Architecture
- industrial design: aesthetic applied to utilitarian objects


I agree that most of them of Adams' claim. And "the boundaries between art and non-art are not hard and fast; there is a grey area." is the really good point to describe the relationship between art and non-art. Art can be involve many differents elements, for example, most of the modern art work such as digital art which have the combination of internet, digital graphic, painting even games etc. Therefore, the definition of art can not be hard and it must have the gray area in it.

Bob Dob,Truce

2. According to Adams, what is needed for videogames to be considered as art?


According to Adams, there are come criteria for videogames can be considered as art. The criteria as the follows,
- Contain content: Something is being expressed and it have the core meaning.
- Have ideas: Art must have the capacity to express ideas; it must be more than merely entertaining.
- Have an aesthetic: distinct aesthetic qualities of games by assessing the appeal, meaning, richness, depth, significance, and so on.
- Make you feel things: They have to make the effort. 
- Not formulaic: art should be included innovation.


References:
Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell, Video game and art (Intellect Books, 2007)
http://www.perezstart.com/retro/drinks-of-kong/1665/

Screening of Gamer Revolution

a)According to the film, what are some pros and cons of playing videogames for individuals and societies?

About the pros of playing videogames for individuals is the player can earn money from the

videogames competition. If they won the competition, they not only can won the prize, but they\can also enter to the company which is specially for make money Also, they may do more exercies through the  videogame, for example, Wii Sport. 

However, it has some cons of playing videogames for individuals and societies, especially

teenagers. Nowadays, many teenagers addicted in playing videogames, it may cause some

bad effect onthem. In the video (CBC documentary, 2007) recorded that the US game creator

created agame which kill all the iranian if you want to win the game. It may cause the

discrimination of Iran and the teenagers may think that iranian is the lower grade humankind.  

b) According the film, is there any evidence that digital games can encourage
aggressive values and anti-social actions in the real world? Do you agree?

According to the film, there may have some ideas that is encourage aggressive value. For

example, some frame of this film show that the players can earn money through the competition, they must have the ambition of winning the game competition for getting the money. In all  competition, there contains competitive atmosphere, especially the result of the game is about money. Therefore, most people will have the ambition to join the competition and encourage the aggressive value.

Besides, most of the game contains the goals such as save the world, fight to the enemies etc. most of these game need us to achieve and pass all the tasks; some games even are multiple play, that means play will other players.  Therefore, most of these games must encourage the aggressive value.

Moreover, I think that digital game won't have the anti-actions in the real world. As I said before, some of the game are multiple players mode, they can play with other players. It also can raise the connection with other people. Besides, the film show that there are some competition in Korea. The players seems became an star of playing game, they also have lots of chances to have interactive with others. Therefore, I won;t think that digital game will have the anti-actions in real world, even there may raise the interaction with the real world.  

 

c) Should governments have the right to ban certain games? Why or why not?

I won't think that government should have the right to ban certain games.

Majority of people will think that some type of games may raise the negative effects to teenages even the society. For example, a game which is first-person game. The players need to follow the beat and use the knife to jump over the fingers. (Link of this game: http://www.asiadog.com/game/violence/12.shtm) and the game which fighting with others till one of them died. (Link of this game: http://www.asiadog.com/game/fight/1.shtm)

However, I don't think the society or teenages' mind can be changed by those violence games easily, there must have other more violent things which exist in the society through other media such as movie. I think that the society must have those things, you cannot ban all of them easily.
Besides, their parents even can teach them through those games. What can do and what they should do. It may be a good chance for educating the teenages.

Technologised Bodies

Which artist’s work do you find the most interesting?
I think that Stelarc's work - "Exoskeleton" is the most interesting work.

About Stelarc(Stelios Arkadious), he is a Greek-Australian performance artist. Stelarc has a concept that " The human body is obsolete." Therefore, most of his works are consisting of  robotic or other modern technology with his body. Moreover, he explores whether or not the human body is an adequate biological form through his work,

"The body is neither a very efficient nor very durable structure. It malfunctions often and fatigues quickly; its performance is determined by its age. It is susceptible to disease and is doomed to a certain and early death. Its survival parameters are very slim - it can survive only weeks without food, days without water and minutes without oxygen" (Stelarc, 1998).

About "Exoskeleton", it's a six-legged, pneumatically powered walking machine has been constructed for the body. The locomotor, with either ripple or tripod gait , moves fowards, backwards, sideways and turns on the spot.

Why I think this work is most interested?

It's because the work recall the figure that appeared in the movie - "Spider man 2". He is Dr. Octopus. He also insert a machine in his body. And he control the machine by himself, it's similar to Stelarc's work.

Individual reserch topic

The Title: Videogames – But are they art?

Ōkami

1. Key quotes

2. Key Links.

3. Key Books and Articles.

4. Case Study.

• Who is the maker of the game? The director is Hideki Kamiya

• When was it produced/released? 2006

• What is its name? Ōkami

• Describe it in detail
  Ōkami combines some of Japanese myths, legends and folklore to tell the story of how the land was saved from darkness by a white wolf, the Shinto sun goddess - Amaterasu. It features a distinct visual style and brush, a gesture-system to perform miracles. The most important element in the game is the game features the calligraphic brushstroke to make the images.

• For you, what is interesting/unusual/thought-provoking/aesthetically pleasing/puzzling about this artwork/website/game? [you may choose your own adjectives! These are just some suggestions]. Explain in detail.

• What key issue(s) or question(s) does this artwork/website/game raise? Explain these thoroughly, making use of quotations and paraphrases from your readings, and other examples, as appropriate 

Online Identity

1. How many online identities do you have? What are they like?

I have lots of online identities such as forum, facebook, MSN, ICQ, e-mail, youtube and xanga.
2. In what ways are they different to your "in person" identities?

There are lots of differences to my "in person' identities. As these identities are not the real identity, therefore I can express my own feeling freely. It's so different to my real personality, I am too shy to express my own feelings in the real life. Sometimes, I won't show my gender, even I will change my gender to male.

3. What are some benefits of expressing one's identity online?

These identities are benefit for me to do many things. For example, I can talk with my friends through MSN, ICQ and facebook, it is quite convenient for me to talk on internet and won't need to holding the phone to talk with them. Besides, I can communicate with strangers and share somethings that I won't have brave to talk in reality.

4. What are some risks?

To me, I will consider the privacy. When we create an account on some forum even msn, these website may require us to provide our personal information such as real name, telephone number even address. For example, the most popular website - facebook also have this problem. According to kurtvonmoos.com, it reported that "Facebook is import all the names and phone numbers from your phone’s address book and upload them to your Facebook Phonebook app on Facebook.com."

References link: http://kurtvonmoos.com/facebook_steals_contact_info/

Do video-sharing sites enhance or worsen creative culture?

People always argue that whether the video-sharing sites such as youtube, youku even facebook enhance the creative culture or not. To me, those video-sharing sites can enhance the creative culture and our development of creativity indeed.

According to Roman Marek, he said that "the virtuality of the internet maximizes accessibility. It almost seems like there are no external boundaries for the creativity of the community...", I agree what he said is the internet is accessibility, people can access to it and share their idea freely. They won't have any boundary to stop their creativity, except the illegal things. Therefore, all the people can surf the internet and get the new idea from others. It is the free-sharing world indeed. It's not same as the reality, we don't know how to public your own work / idea to others.

Moreover, I also agree that "people are sharing enormous amounts of audio-visual material — they are participating in a circulation of ideas. This circulation of ideas results in a process you may label as collective creativity." by Roman Marek. If people share their idea to others and it will be a circulation of creativity, that's mean "collective creativity". In the internet, it must be collected many ideas from all of us because have contributed the ideas even only a sketch.

Therefore, I would say that these video-sharing sites such as youtube, youku even facebook enhance the creative culture can enhance the creativity and the creative culture.

Youtube - "Bus Uncle"

1. There's above 80,000 viewers have watched "Bus Uncle". Maybe it's because the english title, so the numbers of viewers is less.

    The Chinese title of this video has been watched by more than 26,000,000 people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSHziqJWYcM

2.  I would like to give a high score for this video; it's about 8 out of 10.

Although it's not the high quality video and it is also hard for us to see the face of the two main characters in the video, it is also a good video for me. It is because this video can show the reality of hong Kong and showing the truth to us - All of us are under pressure.

Actually, bus uncle is an extreme model to showing us the truth; it can also attract our attention to face our difficulties. It is really interesting video for us. And raising the socio-cultural issues to us, as this video took at the real situation, all of them are normal reaction. Therefore, all Hong Kong people can realize and have a same feeling when they watching this video.

Moreover, this video can tell us this serious issue in a funny way, it is not similar to other video or a show talking these issues in a too serious way.

3. I think all of them who put the video on internet, deserve to recieive the attention from the internet community. But I believed that all of them have another aims that want to achieve.For example, some people want to share their daily life to their friends.

Example here:

(Reference link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwQs5h4aNg&feature=player_embedded)


(Reference link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbrLIwKWWA&feature=related)

Moreover, most of the company will upload the advertisment on youtube in order to get the attention from public and promote their product . For example, Hong Kong Ocean Park have a account on youtube and they will have a post to promote the latest activities to public.
The follows link is the latest advertisment which posted by HK Ocean Park to promote the Halloween. 


(Reference link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMHh3yfrFnw)

Mission to Earth

1. Using “Mission to Earth” as an example, note what is new or different about digital cinema compared to traditional filmmaking? Consider the story and appearance of the film.

There are lots of different between digital cinerma and traditional filmmaking. Take "Mission to Earth" as a example, we can see both video clips and motion-graphics clips (It seems a gif. file) appearing side by side in most parts of the film. In the tradition film, we can't add the motion-graphics in the film, even it is difficult for them to group the clips and create a film by many images or clips.

Moreover, the voice over is one of the difference between the digital cinerma and traditional filmmaking. The whole story is being told by the narrator. Actually, it is not surprise if I only mention that story is running with the narrator, I am interested in  the film is cutting by many images or clips and it seems that those images or clips shown randomly. also, the film was visualizing the narrative as much through motion graphics as through live-action video. In traditional filmmaking, they are simply to add the narrator to tell the story.
At last, the filmmaker chose a large or smaller window to display a particular sequence, and the number of windows that appear in a layout is telling us what the main character is seeing and representing her thoughts, memories and feelings. In the traditional filmmaking, they haven't a choice of large or smaller window as they haven't the technique to do so.

•2. What other art forms (eg film, digital art, painting, websites etc) does this film remind you of? Explain the similarity.

This film remind me the other art forms such as digital art. About the digital art, this film remind me the advertisment for the digital art show on 2007. It is because the trailor of the art show is similar to this film and both if them are showing the images or a clips randomly. Also, the content of this trailor is follow the rhythm of the music. It is similar to "Mission to Earth", the narrator is leading the clips and images in the film. Therefore, this film remind me of this trailor.

(Reference link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA3qLichPYE&p=E8E4D4FA5E0AB8FC&playnext=1&index=1)

Digital vs Traditional Photography

1. Photographic Effects

We can use many photographic effects to be achieved by using digital and analog technology.
For example, we can change the level of lightness by both digital and analog technology. Also, we can adjust the color of the photo by using the color filter.

2. Photographic Techniques

There are some photographic effect that can be only achieved by using photographic technique.

We can cut the size of te photo that we want or we can shape of it. Moreover, we can add other object, which have exist in the real life, into the photo. For example, u can add yourself into the photo by using photoshop, even you can add more than one :)

Moreover, we can use the functional key on camera that can change the daylight, such as we can change the color of the photo from sunrise to sunset. Or we can change the tone of mood on the photo, for example change to be a vintage tone.

Example:

Original

Vintage

3. Difference between analog photography and digital photography

Digital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film. The captured image is then stored as a digital file ready for digital processing.

Analog photography is a traditional photography, we use the film to record the image. And we need to print it out so that we can see what we take.

There are lots of difference between analog photography and digital photography.
Firstly, Digital photography save the images in the memory card and we can see the image that we took on the camera's monitor immdiately; analog photography save the image on the film. We can only see the image until the film had been printed.

Moreover, digital photography can change any object of background on the photo, such as change a sunny day to rainny day or change the road to a river etc; but, analog photography can't change the background and object of the photo.

handcoloring a black and white photo




Original

 


After

 

Our Group's arguement (VB)

Our group goes with the Britannica. And we choose Britannica for basically two reasons: accuracy and user-friendly. We have our arguments as follows.
Firstly, if only one encyclopedia can be left for human beings, it has the responsibility of the continuity of knowledge. Our offspring will have to depend on it to study, to explore, so the accuracy is very important, because we don’t want to mislead them. And Britannica is more accurate than Wikipedia. Quoted from Hioberg (senior vice president and editor in chief of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. ) ‘Britannica has published more than a hundred Nobel Prize winners and thousands of other well-known experts and scholars. Contrary to Wikipedia, Britannica's contributor base is transparent and not anonymous.’ This is the main reason for our choices.
Secondly, we found that Britannica is more user-friendly than Wikipedia. Here are the homepages of these two encyclopedia.
1. Britannica

2. Wikipedia

We can judge from the pictures above that although Wikipedia has a lot of information, but it is too messy, because the page is not so well-organized. As for Britannica, we have clear categories, we have dictionary and news, we also list some articles like news for today. It’s easier for us to find useful information from this well-organized page. And we searched for ‘Plato’ as a test. The result just as follows.
3. wikipedia

http://www.britannica.com/bps/search?query=Plato Britannica

Wikipedia simply pumped out a page talking about who Plato is and his theories and life and so on. It did give out great lists of footnotes, references and extensional readings. But Britannica did even better. It listed all the result on the page, and when you put your mouse on each of them there would be a brief introduction of the resources so that you can choose what to read more specifically and easily. And you can choose to read Ebook or magazine or dictionary.
As we discussed above, Britannica has obvious advantage over Wikipedia in accuracy and user-friendly. So we absolutely support Britannica to be the only encyclopedia in the world.

Wikipedia or Encyclopaedia?

Brittannica should be a good choice to me. Although Wikipedia and Brittannica have a lots of sources for us to find out and most of it is useful for us, Wikipedia's sources may not completely correct. It is because Wikipedia's information can be edited by anyone even your younger brother. Therefore, the information which found from Wikipedia may not reliable.

Although I said that Brittannica is better choice, I won't say that Brittannica's information must be completely correct and reliable. We know that Brittannica only can be changed by the owner. In order to make the source more reliable, the editor should find more evidence and basis to prove whether the information is proper or not. Therefore,the information should be more neutral.

But I don't think information only can be edited by a person, as some controvertsial information should be combined by both positive and negative opinion. Some people may say that Wikipedia can be combine more different voice from people as Wikipedia can be changed by everyone. I may be true. But I wonder those opinions is true or it's a joke? As Brittannica have more reliable evidences, hence I would trust the information from Brittannica more.

Modern Times

To me, I can not find any benefits on him in the clip. Sometimes the new technologies can help us a lots, but its also can make some negative effect on us. In the clip, Chaplin was affected by those machine and he seems got crazy. In the beginning, when he want to take a rest, he continues to do the same working posture. He seems got an occupational disease even he may get mental disorder. Also, when I watched on the feeding machine, I think it is a stupied design. The feeding machine seems to design a model answer of eating habit. The machine can't control our eating habit. It's not all people will drink soup first, then eat the main course.

When I use the common digital technologies, I also experience some similar experiences. On the computer, we must know how to type words and we can say we used to type words. When I write with paper and pen, I will forget how to write the word suddenly. I also used to open the computer every morning when I wake up, it already become my habit and seems a regular action for me. It may similar to Chaplin in the clip. Chaplin used to keep on the working posture.

Nevertheless, I won't like as Chaplin. Chaplin is forced by his employer as he must work for life. However, I don't forced by anyone, I can decide to use the computer or not. I also have another things to do, such as hanging out with friends. I won't stay with the computer for a long time, it must make me crazy. It is too tired!