Do Games Need Art, Does Art Need Games?

Thursday, October 20, 6-8pm

A discussion and catalog release for Voluntary Attempts to Overcome Necessary Obstacles

Join curator Nicholas O'Brien with invited guests as they discuss what critical and cultural values are gained—if any—from showing games in traditional art galleries. Pulling on existing cultural commentary from tech culture, the indie games industry, and contemporary media art this evening invites audiences to consider how the works on display pose fascinating questions for the future of games as art.

with
Bijan Stephens
Clara Fernandez-Vara
Nicholas O'Brien

Catalog Design by Chuck Kuan

In conjunction with EFA Open Studios
Catalog launch (6PM) Panel (7pm)

Panelist bios

Clara Fernández-Vara is Associate Arts Professor at the NYU Game Center, New York University. Her background is interdisciplinary, combining studies of literature, theatre and film with digital media. Her field of expertise focuses on narrative in games and game design, as well as comparative studies of games with other media. She is also a narrative designer and game writer for commercial games, and has worked on games for Warner Bros., Big Fish Games, the Spanish National Ballet, and Die Gute Fabrik. Her book, Introduction to Game Analysis, published by Routledge, is now in its second edition.
Social media - Twitter: @clarafv

Bijan Stephen is a host and senior editor at Campside Media. His writing about video games has appeared in The New Yorker, The Believer, Kill Screen, and elsewhere.