Dups and Dr. Warkentin discuss whether video games qualify as classical art. They examine the philosophy of play and compare traditional theater structures to modern game design.
Key Topics:
The Philosophy of Play: A look at Schiller’s concept of the “drive to play” (Spieltrieb) and how playing games connects logical and emotional thinking.
Aristotle vs. Brecht in Gaming: Comparing linear, fixed narratives (Aristotelian) like The Last of Us to interactive, choice-driven narratives (Brechtian) like Baldur’s Gate 3.
Player as Co-Author: How a player’s individual gameplay style and decision-making process become part of the artwork itself.
Digital Ephemerality: The challenge of preserving video games as technology becomes obsolete, and the role of archivists in saving early games.
