For a long time, many video games have sought to emulate storytelling techniques found in film, particularly the ways a story is visually conveyed. While a growing number of people are questioning the wisdom of this goal, "cinematic" is still usually a complementary term used to describe games. This week, we turn the tables and examine how aesthetic techniques from video games are influencing TV and film. With the help of G. Christopher Williams' article on the video game aesthetics of Spartacus, we discuss both subtle and overt aesthetic contributions games make to works outside of the medium. As always, feel free to share your thoughts on the sharing in the comments Some discussion starters:
- Do any specific films or TV shows strike you as aesthetically inspired by video games?
- Is there a particular "look" that denotes video game aesthetics? Is it still pejorative to liken a film or TV show to a video game?
- Can film and TV appropriate video game aesthetics even though they lack the ability to appropriate the corresponding mechanics?
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Show notes:
- Run time: 28 min 22 sec
- "The Video Game Aesthetics of Spartacus: Blood and Sand," by G. Christopher Williams, via PopMatters
- Music provided by Brad Sucks
I like how in Crank 2 a classical sequence taken off a FPS is perfectly "reenacted" in the movie.
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