The Arts and Their Purpose in Our Culture

This year has been an incredible drain for the residents of the United States. It seems nearly everyday people have been having a conversation regarding the election and other necessary, although mentally exhausting, topics. Although these issues are important, they can take a massive toll on our psyche. With the election about to come to an end it is a good time to reflect on ourselves and look to some enjoyment outside the media. With all these important issues however one might ask how best to do that? How can we simply set our brains aside when there is still so much to be engaged in? Good news is that depending on what you do for entertainment it doesn't have to be mindless. Let's talk the arts.

The arts is anything that is of imaginative quality, strong visual artistry, or intellectual content. It is also anything that comes from the human mind in a physical expression. While many think that the arts are dying or that they have no real purpose in modern day society, it is important to remember how the arts were established and what goal they was striving to achieve. They were built on principles of emotion and thought. The expression of our species is the central idea behind them. The concepts of thinking critically and perceiving the world around us in new ways helps us become more enlightened and improves our minds to adapt to new ways of thinking and working with our fellow man. Good examples of this were the plays that were acted out in ancient times by the Athens. One such play is that of Oedipus Rex by playwright Sophocles. It is a tragic story of a man that is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. His parents rejected their son due to his prophesy and gave him to another kingdom. Of course the story plays out with the prophecy coming true, but you may be asking what the significance of that story is. What purpose does it serve? If you find yourself asking questions that is the point. To think critically about something. To engage in discussion and participate in something to better understand our world and our philosophies as human beings. It makes us more inquisitive and intelligent human beings. Asking questions is the key to discovery.

Another example. Think of the paintings Van Gogh is famous for. The Starry Night or The Yellow House. These paintings are personal expressions of the human soul. They are masterworks of artistry, but also tell personal stories that allow us to empathize with another person. It is a beautiful thing to have a deep understanding of another through their eyes and experiences. This is what art allows us to do. It is pleasing and it is engaging. The very understanding of the human mind is engulfed in pleasing imagery while simultaneously having new comprehension of another human. It is wonderful!

If paintings and sculptures aren't your thing that is alright. The arts include any expression of the human soul. Take movies as an example. Think of you're favorite movie. Personally, my favorite movie is the Dark Knight. Although it is a Batman movie it rarely feels like an action comic book movie. It touches on deep themes of heroism, vigilantism, the difference between right and wrong, and the moral grey areas that preside in our world. Looking at it through this lens I have a new thought process for these concepts. I gain new respect for the visionary who created such a masterpiece. To have such a dense and cohesive film that is as bold to question who we are and what we do is a remarkable achievement. It is moments like these that encapsulate what we are and the actions that define us.

If we take the time to stop and smell the roses I promise you can experience something grand. Go to a museum, support local performances like choir, theatre, and reenactments. Go to the movies and go on an adventure. Take time to study your world and it will give you incredible, heartwarming, joyous, emotional, and fulfilling moments you can cherish for eternity. Share those experiences with others so that they may be inspired to follow in your footsteps. Delve into the arts and let their rich experiences wash away the muck of modern day drama even if for but a day.

What To Expect From The Last Guardian?

The Last Guardian. A game with a legend that is enormous in the gaming community. The crazy part is that it is almost out and we will soon be able to play it. Originally shown in 2009 and in the works since 2007, the game has long been anticipated after Team Ico released the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Colossus back in 2005. That game won people over and helped push artistry and storytelling in the games industry. Given that the game has taken this long it is reasonable to believe that there is no way it will be as good as we hope it will be, but maybe that is because we expect the wrong things from it. Maybe we're part of the problem.

The Last Guardian has been decidedly vague in its marketing and for good reason. Story spoilers for a game like this would be heartbreaking. It's trailer depict a large and sometimes intimidating creature that is quite adorable and lovable, and a boy that seems to grow a strong bond with this creature. Thankfully we don't really know much else. If we did it could ruin the magic and spectacle its been building. It seems as though it will have more in common with Ico the 2001 classic PlayStation 2 game than Shadow of the Colossus. People want this game to be great, myself included. Those of us that played the games that came before it understand how special they are. They pull at our heartstrings and allow us to be swept up in an incredible journey. 

My fear is that with the development cycle taking as long as it has that it will harm the perception and reality of what the game truly is. It is not yet known if the game will be great. If you expect something incredible and life changing then I think it is safe to say you will be let down. When we hype something too much the excitement and anticipation gets lost in the noise allowing us to be numb. For those of us that understand it is just a game and proceed to judge it without bias and expectation it can make the experience that much more emotional and thrilling. I guess the bottom line is to temper expectations and don't assume something spectacular, but rather let the experience take place with no expectation. The task is monumental believe me. The game has so much riding on it for fans of the compelling and beautiful games that Team Ico has made in the past. I totally understand how hard it is, but if you separate yourself from the hype it just might let you enjoy one of the most anticipated games in the industry.

Review: Inside

What Awaits?

I'd like to preface this with saying I know Inside came out in June, but since it still haunts my mind with questions and is consistently near the top of my favorite experiences of the year list I would like to give my humble opinion. Shall we review?

Inside is the long awaited follow up to Playdead's monochrome indie masterpiece Limbo. For those that are new to Playdead's style of game it basically boils down to a beautiful side-scrolling puzzle game with deep, complex, and ambiguous story threads. If this doesn't sound like your type of game I totally get it. It isn't my type of game either from a gameplay perspective, but somehow the geniuses over at Playdead found a way to craft one of the most masterfully emotional and intriguing experiences I have had in recent memory. I promise there will be no spoilers, but if you don't want to know anything else I'll just say Inside an incredible experience that should not be missed.

Life On The Inside

Inside starts with a boy going through the woods, while seemingly running from some people. It may sound vague, but that is all I will say in terms of story. I am being vague because Inside's story is the kind that needs to be experienced without knowledge. It is powerful while remaining silent. What makes Inside so brilliant is its use of storytelling via camerawork and cinematography. It may sound strange, but the game has some impressive visual flare that makes it compelling and dream like from the very start. It's music is haunting and feels like something otherworldly. It's atmosphere is dreary and yet familiar. It is something so unlike what we are used to and at the same time something remembered.

For a game that plays left to right it is remarkable what it is able to achieve in such a limited space. The game is beautiful to look at and fluid to play. Playdead took six years to make this game and there doesn't seem to be a hair out of place when it comes to the production value. It is the most polished game I have played. By the story's conclusion I was left scratching my head with confusion, but as I immediately started playing again to see if I missed something certain things became clearer, but in clarity came more questions. It is a game that leaves the player wanting to know so much, but it does so little to explain. Generally I find this means of storytelling to be a bit pretentious, but Inside walks a fine line that balances it well. It trusts the player to piece together potential outcomes and mysteries. It felt as though they believed in my intellect and allowed me the freedom to think about it. Developers and directors nowadays have to spoon feed story and tell you its importance, but they didn't here and thanks to that it paid off in spades. The puzzles are handled with excellence as well. They are smart without being so complex and intricate as to make me look them up. It can be hard to find such balance, but again they are masters at their craft and made something remarkably accessible. The game is just so evocative and I am honestly gushing with how inventive and fresh it feels. It is certainly one of if not the best games of the year.

Verdict:

Overall I am amazed at what Inside is. I went into the game knowing next to nothing about it and came out with questions regarding not only the game, but human existence itself. Inside is an arthouse masterpiece that is as ambiguous as it gets, but has the master's degree to pull it off. I hope more games and even more media in general sees what Inside does and incorporates it's principles and lessons. It is a classic example that games and media can transcend social stereotypes through vivid and important storytelling. If you haven't already played Inside I urge you to do so. It is truly a masterpiece, and I don't say that lightly.

Rating:

A+

Reviews

I wanted to give a small update on anybody who followed my reviews I did for Video Games Etc. I will continue to post reviews and opinions on this blog page, but the way I review will be a little different. I will still give a rating, but it will be in the form of a letter grade. I find this method to be a little less intricate and judgmental and instead can speak more volumes about the game, movie, book etc. A review is an opinion after all and it seems silly to me to critique art with numbers. Any reviews I have done in the past will stay on the old blog. I just want a good fresh start. My first few reviews are fast approaching so stay tuned, and as always thanks for the support!

Welcome to the Blog Folks!

Hey everybody! If you are reading this it means you are now on my new and all inclusive blog. I have been meaning to get a blog up where I could talk about whatever I wanted to and share some of my thoughts and opinions with those who were interested. I plan on keeping it updated weekly if not every few days. I have recently been quite engaged by many topics whether it be video games, the election, movie news, or just some philosophical thoughts I've had. Please feel free to leave feedback or comment on anything you want to chat about. I'd love to hear from you and have a good conversation. Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for more! Enjoy!