Fox news slams NEA for calling Video games as art.

Fox News Ignorantly Attacks NEA for CIassifying Games as Art

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In a display of manipulative journalism from beginning to end, Fox News attempts to debate whether or not artistic videogames should receive federal funding.

Recently, the U.S. federally-funded National Endowment for the Arts changed its criteria for what it considered art, adding "interactive games." This means that a videogame developer can now apply for a grant to develop a not-for-proft artistic or educational game that "enhances the public good" in accordance with the NEA's guidelines, just as filmmakers and other content producers can. Fox News took the opportunity to jump on the change, developing a short segment that attacks the federal government for funding videogames.

To its credit, Fox News brought in editor-in-chief of Icrontic Brian Ambrozy, who actually knew what he was talking about. Fox pitted him against radio talk-show host Neal Asbury, whose intention was obviously to ignore the facts and spout rhetoric.

Not to its credit, the very first line of the Fox News segment set a poor tone that would continue through to the end. "Should the videogame Call of Duty get federal funding," the host asks, while showing violent clips of the game. Anyone that had done their basic research on the NEA's guidelines would know that Call of Duty isn't anywhere remotely close to getting federal funding. This line is either ignorantly or intentionally manipulative, which in either case is extremely disappointing coming from one of the nation's most popular news outlets.

Ambrozy does his best to express this fact, but is somewhat overshadowed by the loud, outspoken words of Asbury. "Hey, maybe we should start giving taxpayer money to ping-pong players," Asbury says, not seeming to understand that a ping-pong player and a videogame developer are two entirely different professions. He adds that organizations like the NEA are "stretching the limits of wastefulness," becoming a "perversion" of what they were originally intended to be, all in regards to the changed criteria.

Ambrozy comes back pointing out that videogames and entertainment in general generate billions of dollars per year, and that an NEA-funded videogame could perhaps inspire the population to become involved in artistic or technical professions related to videogame development. Asbury replies with more wasteful spending quotes, saying: "President Obama wants to raise my taxes to pay for videogames?"

Nowhere is it ever acknowledged that Call of Duty and games like it are not going to receive taxpayer dollars. The intent of the segment seems as if it was meant to take a dig at the current leaders of the U.S. government using factually incorrect information and an over-animated critic, rather than a look at what's actually occurring in reality.

The worst part is that these sorts of segments, though less than 5 minutes long, affect people. Someone is probably in an argument right now about how the government is using taxpayer dollars to fund Call of Duty, and that simply isn't the case. Not every game is art, but interactive media can absolutely be developed in an educational or artistic way, and that's all the NEA is recognizing. It's sad that media outlets are still using the general ignorance of the public about the broad spectrum that videogames now encompass for their own ends.

The Fox News segment can be viewed here

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All I have to say is....Really Fox? Trying to say CoD would be even applying for the grant? Lulz.

The problem with this is that you went to FOX News... Its not a news group.. More propaganda and "sensationlism" with a couple spoons of comedy central goodies LOL

Ahhh come on guys FOX news ain't that bad..

Whenever I'm especially bored and there is nothing funny on the tube, I change the channel to FOX news and am never disappointed, for there is some or the other hilarious BS on air.

I mean, what with Simpsons going downhill and everything one needs the daily fix of humour now and then, and FOX News does the job admirably.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what most of the country calls "fair and balanced" news.

Is it any wonder we are going right down the tubes.

Ambrozy owned him. :D

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what most of the country calls "fair and balanced" news.

Is it any wonder we are going right down the tubes.

789shadow

i don't think the government has any business declaring anything as art. Video games shouldn't get any government funding either. Who gets off calling a game like Shadows of the Collusus art but not Call of Duty?

Video games is art. It requires artist. Concept artist, Environmental Artist, Character Artist, etc. You have to be dam good at art to get a spot. :?

Also....FOX NEWS!! :lol: :lol:

Hurray for another piece of journalism where the media is trying to portray against video games. Whats the point of having those two 'experts' carry out the debate anyways, Fox was asserting their own agenda throughout the whole thing.

But I really doubt the anyone who was watching that that has a brain would not see the problem in the video. The whole thing was forced anyway.

I love Fox News. There's so few good comedies on television these days.

Ambrozy owned him. :D

[QUOTE="789shadow"]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what most of the country calls "fair and balanced" news.

Is it any wonder we are going right down the tubes.

Stevo_the_gamer

No, they had an angry yelling guy put in place specifically to sway the millions of lemmings (not MS fanboys) who treat FOX News as God to his point of view to manufacture contreversy, as with ALL of these types of debates they do.

But this isn't OT. :P

Um, they had someone who was pro-video game art, and someone who was anti-video game art. That was pretty fair and balanced to Fox News' credit... After watching the segment, I didn't see anything wrong with how the host acted.

Stevo_the_gamer

This is actually good for video games. FOX News make themselves look like bunch of idiots and they are taking all other videogame haters with them. :)

I think the main issue is that FOX was trying to insinuate that games like CoD would even be thought of for such a grant, when obviously they never would be. Also there "Anti game-art" guy was terrible he just wanted to shove some politcal comedy into his speach and failed. The only comedian I trust is Cat Williams, fountain of knowledge right there.

Jynxzor

[QUOTE="Stevo_the_gamer"]
Um, they had someone who was pro-video game art, and someone who was anti-video game art. That was pretty fair and balanced to Fox News' credit... After watching the segment, I didn't see anything wrong with how the host acted.

Jynxzor

The 'pro game-art' guy already stated that the commercial/mainstream games like cod will never be up in line for any of that, but the host still ran with it. I see arrogant assertions right there.

Is it even a question that video games can be not only art, but masterpieces?

Ambrozy owned him. :D

[QUOTE="789shadow"]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what most of the country calls "fair and balanced" news.

Is it any wonder we are going right down the tubes.

Stevo_the_gamer

Unbelievable. I just watched it too. I think its far from fair and balanced. The angry conservative just ranted about how $0.43 of every dollar would go to videogames and funding Call of Duty while our other man argued that its just as valid as film. Ofcourse, some people can't see games as something more than ping pong. Its ignorant to think the gaming industry would be "10s of billions of dollars" from the fed and its just as ignorant to say it wouldn't create jobs.

Also, because I really believe a large percentage of Republicans are idiots, he complains about wasteful spending and how evil it is. Hey, how about you raise taxes on the top 2% of Americans, that would single handedly solve our debt crisis.

Ignorant rhetoric is all that spews out of that network and those gullable enough to believe it make the entire country look like morons.

Isn't FOX news anti-transvestite?

(I'm going to love saying this every time they do something like this :P )

Nowhere is it ever acknowledged that Call of Duty and games like it are not going to receive taxpayer dollars. The intent of the segment seems as if it was meant to take a dig at the current leaders of the U.S. government using factually incorrect information and an over-animated critic, rather than a look at what's actually occurring in reality.

The worst part is that these sorts of segments, though less than 5 minutes long, affect people. Someone is probably in an argument right now about how the government is using taxpayer dollars to fund Call of Duty, and that simply isn't the case.

Jynxzor

This pretty much somes up anything you'll see on Fox News.

People would rather be entertained by the news than informed by it now a days. Why would we watch the depressing old news when we can watch an entertaining show and then ignorantly complain about the "problems" the show talked about? :roll:

VGs can and should be considered art if we are going to consider other media for one thing. I actually see where they are both coming from too. Although whats his face, lets call him jackass, was obviously ignoring the good points made of how it can actually help, I think at this point in time, it may have been a little early to give it that title. All things considered.

You could tell the guy loves debates though and acting like he is top dog in making his point. Just by looking at his face, he was so into it haha.

[QUOTE="Jynxzor"]I think the main issue is that FOX was trying to insinuate that games like CoD would even be thought of for such a grant, when obviously they never would be. Also there "Anti game-art" guy was terrible he just wanted to shove some politcal comedy into his speach and failed. The only comedian I trust is Cat Williams, fountain of knowledge right there.

Stevo_the_gamer

When I was 4 I made a macaroni picture. Is that art? NO!!!! Not every painting is art, not every sculpture is art, not ever videogame is art. Shadow of the Collusus is art. Heavy Rain IS NOT art. CALL OF DUTY IS NOT ART!!!!

What they are talking about funding is intelectually stimulating endeavors. Would you be OK with The Last Guardian or Limbo being funded? That's the question. And what do you mean the fat man didn't adress the angry man's concerns!? The angry man didn't listen to the fat man's points. All the angry man did was b**** about Obama and how the Democrats are ruining the country by spending.

And the only commedian I trust is Stephan Colbert. I love that man.

I don't get it what's with Fox and their constant bashing towards video games.

Tools.

I don't get it what's with Fox and their constant bashing towards video games.

edidili

Change is scary! Taxes are bad! Videogameskill people!

It gets them attention and attention makes them money.

I don't get it what's with Fox and their constant bashing towards video games.

edidili

When I was 4 I made a macaroni picture. Is that art? NO!!!! Not every painting is art, not every sculpture is art, not ever videogame is art. Shadow of the Collusus is art. Heavy Rain IS NOT art. CALL OF DUTY IS NOT ART!!!!

What they are talking about funding is intelectually stimulating endeavors. Would you be OK with The Last Guardian or Limbo being funded? That's the question. And what do you mean the fat man didn't adress the angry man's concerns!? The angry man didn't listen to the fat man's points. All the angry man did was b**** about Obama and how the Democrats are ruining the country by spending.

And the only commedian I trust is Stephan Colbert. I love that man.

RandomWinner

Art is defined by the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination; so by that very definition your own works as a child would fall under art. When paint splatter on a canvass can sell for hundreds (if not, thousands) of dollars, why can't a macaroni picture? I still hold true my works as a child, when I created a "turtle" out of leaves. That isn't art? Because... why? Elitism is takes the discussion downwards, due take notice that what you deem as "childish" or simply archaic what have you, does not mean it doesn't escape the very definition of art.

I do not believe federal funding should go to independent developers to create video games, unless the sole purpose of those video were by educational means aimed squarely at children. LIMBO, for example, would not be something that would deserve federal funding for it has no educational value to children.

Secondly, I was referring to the Anti-Video game individual going off on tangents not addressing what Ambrozy (The Pro-Video game art individual) was discussing.

They should have shown this clip instead of the COD one:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-alluring-trine-2/711767

Even i would get outraged if someone considered cod art... only very few games could be considered that.

[QUOTE="RandomWinner"]

When I was 4 I made a macaroni picture. Is that art? NO!!!! Not every painting is art, not every sculpture is art, not ever videogame is art. Shadow of the Collusus is art. Heavy Rain IS NOT art. CALL OF DUTY IS NOT ART!!!!

What they are talking about funding is intelectually stimulating endeavors. Would you be OK with The Last Guardian or Limbo being funded? That's the question. And what do you mean the fat man didn't adress the angry man's concerns!? The angry man didn't listen to the fat man's points. All the angry man did was b**** about Obama and how the Democrats are ruining the country by spending.

And the only commedian I trust is Stephan Colbert. I love that man.

Stevo_the_gamer

Art is defined by the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination; so by that very definition your own works as a child would fall under art. When paint splatter on a canvass can sell for hundreds (if not, thousands) of dollars, why can't a macaroni picture? I still hold true my works as a child, when I created a "turtle" out of leaves. That isn't art? Because... why? Elitism is takes the discussion downwards, due take notice that what you deem as "childish" or simply archaic what have you, does not mean it doesn't escape the very definition of art.

I do not believe federal funding should go to independent developers to create video games, unless the sole purpose of those video were by educational means aimed squarely at children. LIMBO, for example, would not be something that would deserve federal funding for it has no educational value to children.

Secondly, I was referring to the Anti-Video game individual going off on tangents not addressing what Ambrozy (The Pro-Video game art individual) was discussing.

Well I will formally take this moment to appologize for misunderstanding who Ambrozy was. I assumed he was the angry man :).

Moving to a more peaceful discussion, I don't think you can call any form of expression artistic. Then anything is art. The way I walk, or talk, is art. I think its to broad. I think it needs to be more specific. We could debate about the definition of art is and what it applies to. To me, art is something unique, something different, and its a bonus if its essence is powerful. But something like Call of Duty, imho is a rehashed franchise. I don't think it can be art because its replicated something that has already existed. The guy in the vid argues that ping pong isn't art. I agree with him. But what if ping pong was the first kind of competition. Ping Pong started the idea of two people competing to see which is better. Would the idea of a game be "art" if it had never been done before? Its not my decision, but I think so. I think that if a game does something nothing has ever done before, then it is art. Shadow of the Collusus is my favorite example. And I should've said Braid, since I've never played LIMBO.

All games (in fox point of view) = call of duty

The guy was explaining that indie games were to get those funds and what does fox do ? Show some clips of Black ops:roll:

I quit the video there, what a waste of time.

All games (in fox point of view) = call of duty

The guy was explaining that indie games were to get those funds and what does fox do ? Show some clips of Black ops:roll:

I quit the video there, what a waste of time.

R4gn4r0k

Even Black Ops can be seen as art.. Movies are a art median.. There are plenty of mindless and awful movies out there.. And some itmes the most flashy movies like 300 are seen as a art form simply because of their unique look as well as their simple but interesting message.

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

All games (in fox point of view) = call of duty

The guy was explaining that indie games were to get those funds and what does fox do ? Show some clips of Black ops:roll:

I quit the video there, what a waste of time.

sSubZerOo

Even Black Ops can be seen as art.. Movies are a art median.. There are plenty of mindless and awful movies out there.. And some itmes the most flashy movies like 300 are seen as a art form simply because of their unique look as well as their simple but interesting message.

I'm not to decide what is art, neither are you, but that wasn't my point really.

Um, they had someone who was pro-video game art, and someone who was anti-video game art. That was pretty fair and balanced to Fox News' credit... After watching the segment, I didn't see anything wrong with how the host acted.

Stevo_the_gamer

I just saw a video that started with images of Call of Duty, where you saw things blowing the hell up everywhere, with the question: "Should video game Call of Duty get federal funding?" as if that was the ultimate representation of the industry.

The host presented Ambrozy as being a geek--nothing wrong with that, but extremely unecessary and the reason is quite obvious. Then he instead of making a question, makes a statement that Call of Duty or GTA is all he obviously thinks about when thinking about the video game industry.

That said, it didn't really go much beyond that and even though you could tell that Ambrozy was nervous as hell, he stood his ground, and made more than reasonable arguments about it.

Edited: Yeah Ambrozy's site does present itself as a geek community, so... that's that I suppose.

They brought in two people from each side to debate it yet Fox is bashing it?

Ummm... It's Faux News, what do you expect?

They brought in two people from each side to debate it yet Fox is bashing it?

Chutebox

Oh no, not this debate again. I would agree that video games are generally not art, but I hate how Fox always needs to create an outrage by turning everything that happens into a ridiculous hyperbole.

[QUOTE="Stevo_the_gamer"]

Um, they had someone who was pro-video game art, and someone who was anti-video game art. That was pretty fair and balanced to Fox News' credit... After watching the segment, I didn't see anything wrong with how the host acted.

StealthSting

I just saw a video that started with images of Call of Duty, where you saw things blowing the hell up everywhere, with the question: "Should video game Call of Duty get federal funding?" as if that was the ultimate representation of the industry.

The host presented Ambrozy as being a geek--nothing wrong with that, but extremely unecessary and the reason is quite obvious. Then he instead of making a question, makes a statement that Call of Duty or GTA is all he obviously thinks about when thinking about the video game industry.

That said, it didn't really go much beyond that and even though you could tell that Ambrozy was nervous as hell, he stood his ground, and made more than reasonable arguments about it.

Edited: Yeah Ambrozy's site does present itself as a geek community, so... that's that I suppose.

I go to Comedy Central for my news, and to Fox News for my comedy.

There **** just trying to stir **** up. You need to be an aritist in the first place...

Video games ARE art from Shadow of the Colossusto Ninjabread Man but whether it is GOOD art is up to debate. Therefore I think the funding of Videogame "art" is just to broad and needs to be specified. BUT educational video games (which COD is not) should b have the right to be funded. Not every game is like COD...

Lol at Fox News. I always use them as a source of comedy when I'm bored.

I just think it's silly to use it in a debate that the game itself has no reason to be in the debate about. Jynxzor

[QUOTE="Jynxzor"]I just think it's silly to use it in a debate that the game itself has no reason to be in the debate about. Stevo_the_gamer

It would be like showing a clip of transformers in an "are movies art?" debate.

Come on now.

lol Everyone knows not to take FOX news seriously. Even Obama has poked fun at them because of how terrible they are. But they do make for an interesting comedy show like somebody else has said in this topic.