From Console to Museum: Video Games as Art

Since when did Pac-Man and Tetris become high art? After a ground-breaking Smithsonian exhibition, the MOMA in New York is now showcasing video games -- and giving them a spot in their permanent collection.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society, Technology

Topics

Arts & Culture, Video Games

Places

United States of America, New York

Transcript

SCRIPT: They were relegated to the attic years ago, but now Pac-Man, Tetris and 12 other classic video games are getting an extra life -- as art. Hailed as objects of design, they're part of the permanent collection at New York's Museum of Modern Art. SOUDNBITE 1 Paul Galloway (man) Director, Department of Architecture and Design Study Center, MoMA (English, 14 sec): "There's plenty of examples of people who make things that we as a culture want to celebrate, who didn't set out thinking of themselves as an artist. And part of our job here is to tell all of these designers, all of these programmers that what you're doing is important" The games were chosen not just for the way they look, but also for the way they make the players feel. Tetris, the game of stacking falling blocks, came out in 1984 and is just as addictive in black-and-white. SOUNDBITE 2 Paul Galloway (man) Director, Department of Architecture and Design Study Center, MoMA (English, 6 sec): "It's incredibly frustrating. It's a maddening game. And in particular we have the Soviet version where there's no levels and the blocks just keep coming at you..." Visitors are encouraged to try their hand at the games, and see them as something more than just a hobby. VOX POP (man, English, 8 sec): "It was fun as a child, but… It's interesting that something you just thought as a pastime is in a museum now." The exhibit also invites people to look behind the screen: the source code for Pacman is on display, and soon it will be joined by the codes for Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros. Within a few months, the museum plans to grow its collection of video games to 40 masterpieces. ----------------------- SHOTLIST : NEW YORK, NEW YORK, MARCH 1, 2013 SOURCE: AFPTV - CU Pac-Man on screen - MS woman playing Pac-Man - pan from screen to people watching screen - spinning shot of exhibit - SOUDNBITE 1 Paul Galloway (man) - MS man playing game with rabbit - CU rabbit onscreen - CU screen with TETRIS written in mini letters - WS man playing Tetris - CU screen with Tetris game - SOUDNBITE 2 Paul Galloway (man) - MS boy arrives at console to play a game - MS boy playing game at console - VOX POP (man) - tilt over code for Pac-Man - close tilt over Pac-Man code - MS bearded man at exhibit - rack focus from sculpture to screens ///