Is escapism a tonic?

[job32]

I mean, is it something that can take you away from all the bad news ( real or otherwise ) being pushed down your throat constantly by the media?

 

[diet_orange]

I'd say so. Though a lot of the hobbies that encourage it are also unfortunately prone to gatekeeping

 

[job32]

I'd say so. Though a lot of the hobbies that encourage it are also unfortunately prone to gatekeeping

I don't doubt that. It's really just being a bit more aware of things and hope you don't step on a mine. I was talking more, for people not feeling freaked out about avoiding the social media and mainstream media, by logging off and playing games offline.

 

[prnzoDraGoonZweiOrta]

I like to mix it up n sometimes retro from my beloved late 80's n early 90's does the trick... or sometimes a modern indie dev'd or even quasi-AAA title can make the rusty but energetic wheels turn again

 

[Segadude113]

it's all i have

 

[Xugabugala]

All work and no play makes Xugabugala a dull boy.

 

[glokglakglak]

escapism is the result of a sub-ideal society

not my fault whatever people built sucks like ASS

 

[Segadude113]

escapism is the result of a sub-ideal society

not my fault whatever people built sucks like ASS

escapism gave us LOTR.

 

[Tetronomicon]

Much like taking any other mind altering substance, it is an intentional distortion of reality. Whether you're using to get away from it (escapism) or just to enhance it (entertainment), video games are another form of said distortion.

If we were to agree that it is an art form, then you'd have to admit it's probably the most abstract of them. It's a medium that lets you do a lot of stuff that others won't let you do. They have a lot of absurd(ist) logic that you just go along with because it's a video game.

The kind of stuff that if it were in a movie, TV show or book would suspend your disbelief and make you think "Bullshit!"

 

[Turbo Kid]

Video games can be a lot of things, so yeah sure.

I have other escapes too though.

 

[prnzoDraGoonZweiOrta]

Much like taking any other mind altering substance, it is an intentional distortion of reality. Whether you're using to get away from it (escapism) or just to enhance it (entertainment), video games are another form of said distortion.

If we were to agree that it is an art form, then you'd have to admit it's probably the most abstract of them. It's a medium that lets you do a lot of stuff that others won't let you do. They have a lot of absurd(ist) logic that you just go along with because it's a video game.

The kind of stuff that if it were in a movie, TV show or book would suspend your disbelief and make you think "Bullshit!"

well, if you're involved in creation of other art forms then it is more interactive as opposed to the relegated role of 'spectator'... n also in the creation of other art in their various mediums n formats - there is a kind of logic-disconnect thereabouts, where conventions inherent to other paradigms in reality are subject to their own stretches of realism into surrealism n w/e else can possibly be stretched to apply to these non-gaming artforms....

oh crap meant to send this a couple hours ago lol well, better late than... ever...

 

[mistymermaid]

It's become toxic. Too often 'escapism' is a euphemism for "game developers shouldn't include subject matter I don't like".

 

[Tetronomicon]

well, if you're involved in creation of other art forms then it is more interactive as opposed to the relegated role of 'spectator'... n also in the creation of other art in their various mediums n formats - there is a kind of logic-disconnect thereabouts, where conventions inherent to other paradigms in reality are subject to their own stretches of realism into surrealism n w/e else can possibly be stretched to apply to these non-gaming artforms....

oh crap meant to send this a couple hours ago lol well, better late than... ever...

That's fair. I've read some absolutely bizarre writings. Hunter S. Thompson alone is a trip.

I think for me though, video games have always had this inherent "weirdness" (for lack of a better term) that other mediums don't necessarily have by default. Video games kind of just have this aspect of it where you kind of just have to accept it for what it is even if the whole package doesn't entirely make sense.

It's become toxic. Too often 'escapism' is a euphemism for "game developers shouldn't include subject matter I don't like".

I kind of agree with this. But I think more so that it needs to be done the right way. For instance, despite being about some extremely heavy topics, I still find the Metal Gear series to be good escapism. Mostly due to the amazing (albeit often times drawn out) presentation and delivery of the ideas explored (the writing and storytelling can sometimes leave something to be desired though). In a weird way it makes me feel okay despite diving head first into what is often times an overwhelming existential crisis. Mutually assured destruction can do that to us though.

On the other side of the coin, I never got into The Last of Us considering how incredibly hamfisted it is with it's unwinnable scenario. There's no exit there and you're never gonna get anything good out of that world (at least for me it won't). As I like to say about that kind of style of storytelling, "it's as impactful as a sledgehammer... and subtle as a one too".

But yeah... you're still right. Some people just don't wanna feel any discomfort (or anything at all) when they interact with media.