One of the oldest questions that any society faces is "What is art?" The debate centers on whether it depends on the work itself (how creative or expressive it is) or on the artist (how talented or qualified they are). It's a curious development of the 21st century that our society is now faced with a similar question: "Are video games art?"

Most game developers and gamers will tell you "Yes." After all, many of the most popular video games are made by talented people to be colorful and expressive for a wide audience. Games like Portal, Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, and Bioshock are designed not only to feature an enjoyable playing experience, but to be visually stimulating and aesthetically appealing just like any classic painting or digital art exhibit. The fact that these games are usually produced for commercial gain and aren't merely static pieces is where most critics have trouble accepting them as legitimate works of art.

Not everyone plays or appreciates video games for their intended purpose (as something to do recreationally), but many people can and do appreciate these games for their artistic value. If you're someone who wants to see more games at an art exhibit, or are interested in setting up a game-as-art presentation, there's a precedent that you can follow for future reference.

Here are two examples of video game art exhibitions in the modern age.

Museum of Modern Art: In late 2012, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City announced that it had acquired 14 video games to run in an exhibit, which would start the museum toward the future goal of obtaining a full collection of 40 games. Visitors are allowed to play some of the games on display, while others are available for viewing and appreciation only. The current collection at MoMA includes classics like Tetris, Pac-Man, and Myst, along with newer titles like EVE Online, Dwarf Fortress, flOw, and Portal.

The Smithsonian: In 2012, the Smithsonian American Art Museum hosted a long-running installation called The Art of Video Games. The display chronicled the evolution of gaming over the last 40 years, focusing on graphical development and the changing face of game consoles like the Atari VCS and the Xbox 360. Some 240 different games were on display, chosen for either their visual appeal, their technological innovation, or their role in video game history. Visitors were also free to play actual games like Super Mario Brothers, Pac-Man, Myst, The Secret of Monkey Island,and Flower. You can learn more about this exhibit from its companion book, The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect, which the Smithsonian published and continues to sell.

Image by Ryan Quick on Flickr