What at first appears to be a subversive parody of modern art actually in and of itself demonstrates the post-modernist appeal of modern art in the first place. While at first glance, the protagonist seems to echo the common chambercries of those who roam the streets, the simple "I don't get it" and "What even is this?" and "Is this even a painting?" all blend together into roaming and wandering nothings, a repeated iteration of words that eventually all start to homogenize in the same way as the paintings all along the wall.
And yet, the underlying message is straightforward, because as long as the player continues to wander through the museum and continues to explore throughout the museum, more art will continue to be created that the protagonist will be confused by. While the protagonist will never entirely understand, the player is hammered with the most straightforward explanation: "Art will exist as long as there is a demand for it". As long as the player continues to explore the museum, more modern art is created.
Likewise, much like how modern art exists to subvert the structures that we've applied to art for so long, this too subverts the structures that we've come to apply (or even expect!) to a game: The only way to "win" is to Escape the museum, thus ending the journey. The game ends not after a boss battle, or after a cutscene, or after any accomplishment, but at the player's own choosing. This further emphasizes the message that art will exist only so long as there's a demand for it, in that as soon as the player stops demanding more to be generated, art stops being made within the confines of the game.
I get it. I really do. The penis represents a pipe. It makes sense now.
Comments
What at first appears to be a subversive parody of modern art actually in and of itself demonstrates the post-modernist appeal of modern art in the first place. While at first glance, the protagonist seems to echo the common chambercries of those who roam the streets, the simple "I don't get it" and "What even is this?" and "Is this even a painting?" all blend together into roaming and wandering nothings, a repeated iteration of words that eventually all start to homogenize in the same way as the paintings all along the wall.
And yet, the underlying message is straightforward, because as long as the player continues to wander through the museum and continues to explore throughout the museum, more art will continue to be created that the protagonist will be confused by. While the protagonist will never entirely understand, the player is hammered with the most straightforward explanation: "Art will exist as long as there is a demand for it". As long as the player continues to explore the museum, more modern art is created.
Likewise, much like how modern art exists to subvert the structures that we've applied to art for so long, this too subverts the structures that we've come to apply (or even expect!) to a game: The only way to "win" is to Escape the museum, thus ending the journey. The game ends not after a boss battle, or after a cutscene, or after any accomplishment, but at the player's own choosing. This further emphasizes the message that art will exist only so long as there's a demand for it, in that as soon as the player stops demanding more to be generated, art stops being made within the confines of the game.
I get it. I really do. The penis represents a pipe. It makes sense now.
Brilliant masterpiece. A new modern classic.
Your review is a beautiful continuation of the game.
Thank you.
The fact that it was generating the level caught me off-guard. Great idea!
Not sure if I'd be comfortable putting another person's music at the end like that though...
That was pretty entertaining! And an interesting way to do two jams at the same time
Randomly generated modern art + randomly generated art descriptions! Whats not to love!!