The Indie Game Magazine November 2014 | Issue 43 | Page 16

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW

PIXEL POETRY
by Kurt Indovina

P

ixel Poetry is a documentary aiming to answer some of the
video game industry’s most debatable questions. Are video
games art? Do they influence violent behavior? Filmmaker
Richard James Cook set out to ask some of the industry’s founding fathers, and other smaller names, these questions, and compile it all into a 70-minute film.
Pixel Poetry is a promising attempt at trying to present video
games as an art form, and educate a broader audience who may
not understand the community or industry that follows it. But due
to a lack of opposing views, facts to back up claims, and no views
from audiences or consumers not involved in the industry, it comes
off as a one sided, biased view on video games.
The film begins with Minecraft’s rising sun, transitioning into footage of our own sun rising over the mountains. “What I think games
are about is choice,” Gordon Walton (Developer, Producer - The

Sims) says in the opening line of the film. It opens powerfully,
with developers stating their personal philosophy on video games.
The first half is a compilation of big name developers, personalities,
and journalists e.g. Adam Sessler, Chris Kohler, and Kellee Santiago,
being asked to answer questions like “How would you explain video
games to Leonardo Da Vinci,” or of course, “Are video games art?”
After about 30 minutes of the film, I was still waiting for a definitive
focus as to what specifically the documentary was trying to prove.
Not only that, but I was also waiting for a conflict - an opposing
opinion. I didn’t feel like I was learning about the impact video
games have had on our society. Though I was excited to learn the
philosophy of those whom I admire and look up to, it didn’t make
for an interesting film to watch; people who know nothing about
video games will most likely not learn a lot from this film, because
it’s from the perspective of individuals who are already in the thick
of it, who already understand it.
Nevertheless, finally a possible source of conflict was introduced
in the form of a montage of TV reporters and congressmen, stating
that video games are influencing violent behavior. The interviewees
respond with their opinions on the subject; some comparing it to
the attempted banning of rock music, and books, others saying
that it’ll pass and fade away like other controversies of the past.
Up to that point, Pixel Poetry was preaching to the choir. But when
they chose to bring up an argument like “violent games cause
violent behavior,” despite whether I agree with it or not, I needed
to hear the opposing end. I wanted to see contemporary people
speak their views as to why they thought violent games caused
violent behavior. Stock footage of newscasters and politicians
voicing their opinions is not enough to show me their credibility.
Interviewees then go on to say that the concept of violent video
games causing violent behavior had been proven false. By who,
though? I believe it, but not everyone else will. The documentary
never shows factual backing to any claims that are brought up.
Never at any point does Pixel Poetry showcase probably the most
important voice of the industry, and that’s its consumer. The people
whose lives who’ve been shaped by video games are almost entirely not acknowledged. Aside from graffiti artist Kid Nes 1, and

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