Smithsonian Planning a Videogame Art Exhibit

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Smithsonian Planning a Videogame Art Exhibit


The Smithsonian American Art Museum has announced that it will hold an exhibit entitled The Art of Video Games, an in-depth look at the birth and growth of videogames as an artistic medium.

Part of the Smithsonian Institution [http://www.si.edu/], the Smithsonian American Art Museum was founded in 1829 and displays works from across the United States and all the significant art movements that have occurred in the country over the past two centuries. While there have been other exhibits of art inspired by videogames, the museum says this new exhibit will be the first to "examine comprehensively the evolution of videogames themselves as an artistic medium."

"Videogames have grown to become a significant part of our culture since the introduction of the first home video games in the early 1970s. More than seventy percent of American households play videogames on a regular basis, and many families now have two generations of computer users, and gamers, at home," the Smithsonian said. "From the Playstation 3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_VCS], 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."

The display will include videogame footage, interviews with developers and artists, screenshots, working game consoles for visitors to play and more. Game industry expert JavaGaming.org [http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/ceo/bio.jsp?name=Chris%20Melissinos], will be the guest curator of the exhibit.

The Art of Video Games will run from March 16 to September 9, 2012 - yes, that's 2012, so you have lots of time to schedule around it. For more information, head on over to americanart.si.edu [http://www.americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/].


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Gigaguy64

Special Zero Unit
Apr 22, 2009
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Im going.
END OF DISCUSSION
This is really cool!
It will be interesting to see how much things have changes since pong.
 

Hazy

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Jun 29, 2008
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People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
 

AWC Viper

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Jun 12, 2008
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i am so booking a ticket to america and going to whatever state that is in.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
took a while but finally progress.
 

Anarien

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Mar 30, 2007
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Sounds excellent. I've been considering taking another trip to DC in the spring, but perhaps I'll wait a couple of years.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
And it's a government-run organization too.
 

Captain Pancake

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May 20, 2009
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Cool, reminds me of a similar exhibition that they had at the Natural History museum in Edinburgh, which was pretty cool. It basically took us through the ages, starting with space invaders, and ending on beyond good and evil (Which was, at the time, one of the most state of the art games).

I tell you what, if I'm ever in america between now and when I'm eighteen, I'll definitely check it out.
 

Kiefer13

Wizzard
Jul 31, 2008
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People in government actually starting to take games seriously as an art form rather than just regarding them as murder simulators that train children to commit henious atrocities? Ah, progress. This is good news.
 

Heart of Darkness

The final days of His Trolliness
Jul 1, 2009
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AWC Viper said:
i am so booking a ticket to america and going to whatever state that is in.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
took a while but finally progress.
It's probably in Washington, D.C., which isn't a state. But the state of Maryland surrounds D.C.

OT: Hooray! Now maybe the negative view on gaming is finally starting to decline. Also, I would like to see this exhibit.
 

Swaki

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Apr 15, 2009
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thats pretty cool, i should take a trip down there from the great north once.
 

AWC Viper

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Jun 12, 2008
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Heart of Darkness said:
AWC Viper said:
i am so booking a ticket to america and going to whatever state that is in.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
took a while but finally progress.
It's probably in Washington, D.C., which isn't a state. But the state of Maryland surrounds D.C.

OT: Hooray! Now maybe the negative view on gaming is finally starting to decline. Also, I would like to see this exhibit.
Thanks mate. so looks like i'm off to Maryland in 2012.
 

Jared

The British Paladin
Jul 14, 2009
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I'd like to be able to go, unfortunatly one large pond in the way.

Im sure it will be extremly interesting though, I hope I know someone who goes so I can at least hear all the gossip
 

Simalacrum

Resident Juggler
Apr 17, 2008
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oh brilliant! I'll have to check that out at somepoint or another.

I wander if I'll go America anytime soon?
 

Heart of Darkness

The final days of His Trolliness
Jul 1, 2009
9,745
0
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AWC Viper said:
Heart of Darkness said:
AWC Viper said:
i am so booking a ticket to america and going to whatever state that is in.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
took a while but finally progress.
It's probably in Washington, D.C., which isn't a state. But the state of Maryland surrounds D.C.

OT: Hooray! Now maybe the negative view on gaming is finally starting to decline. Also, I would like to see this exhibit.
Thanks mate. so looks like i'm off to Maryland in 2012.
No prob. Just avoid the doomsayers and the campaigners, and you'll be fine. I think...
 

Marik2

Phone Poster
Nov 10, 2009
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xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
Finally Video games are getting some recognition.
 

AWC Viper

New member
Jun 12, 2008
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Heart of Darkness said:
AWC Viper said:
Heart of Darkness said:
AWC Viper said:
i am so booking a ticket to america and going to whatever state that is in.

xxhazyshadowsxx said:
People who don't think games are used for training 8 year olds to commit horrible crimes, and actually acknowledge that it's a medium that can be held as an art form, like movies and music?!

Excellent! Now we're getting somewhere!
took a while but finally progress.
It's probably in Washington, D.C., which isn't a state. But the state of Maryland surrounds D.C.

OT: Hooray! Now maybe the negative view on gaming is finally starting to decline. Also, I would like to see this exhibit.
Thanks mate. so looks like i'm off to Maryland in 2012.
No prob. Just avoid the doomsayers and the campaigners, and you'll be fine. I think...

mate...i'm Australian. i have a knife and some Bundy rum. i'll be just fine, although if you could point me in there general direction that would be greatly appreciated. >.>
 

Heart of Darkness

The final days of His Trolliness
Jul 1, 2009
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AWC Viper said:
mate...i'm Australian. i have a knife and some Bundy rum. i'll be just fine, although if you could point me in there general direction that would be greatly appreciated. >.>
Good luck getting those past customs, but if you do, the more power to you.

And, unfortunately, I don't know the general direction to any Smithsonian. I've only been to D.C. once, and living in the unbearably hot state of insanity Florida means I don't know my way around Maryland that much. Sorry.
 

AWC Viper

New member
Jun 12, 2008
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Heart of Darkness said:
AWC Viper said:
mate...i'm Australian. i have a knife and some Bundy rum. i'll be just fine, although if you could point me in there general direction that would be greatly appreciated. >.>
Good luck getting those past customs, but if you do, the more power to you.

And, unfortunately, I don't know the general direction to any Smithsonian. I've only been to D.C. once, and living in the unbearably hot state of insanity Florida means I don't know my way around Maryland that much. Sorry.
yeah your customs are a bit touchy after all that terrorism stuff huh. maybe i will bring the rum and buy the knife there.
 

Cowabungaa

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Feb 10, 2008
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That's fantastic, a renowned institution taking video games seriously, maybe we're finally getting somewhere.