How Washington Learned to Love Video Games

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's exhibit, The Art of Video Games, is the latest sign that official Washington has finally learned to love Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, and their digital spawn. A mere two decades ago, members of the nascent gaming industry were hauled before Congress and publicly scolded for promoting violence, sexism, racism, and even crimes against humanity. As Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) stated in his opening remarks at a 1993 hearing, "Instead of enriching a child's mind, these games teach a child to enjoy inflicting torture."

But then a funny thing happened: As video games became ever more popular, brutal, and artistic, violent crime in America was declining precipitously. As parental and legislative panic over violence—both real and imagined—subsided, the gaming industry blossomed into the multibillion dollar business it is today.



The video game hysteria of the 1990s followed a predictable cycle, explains University of Southern California sociologist Karen Sternheimer: "Ever since the first nickelodeon [movie theater] opened there are people who were afraid of the impact of popular culture and tried to regulate them right away."


And just like film, rock music, and comic books before them, video games are no longer merely tolerated, but embraced by Washington, from the formation of a new congressional caucus to the placement of campaign ads on XBox games to the entombing of a Commodore 64 behind plexiglass at the Smithsonian.



"This exhibition could not have happened at any other point in history than right now," declares Smithsonian curator Chris Melissinos. "For the first time we have gamers raising gamers. I believe, from this point forward, you are going to see a greater more rapid appropriation and acceptance of video games as anything from art to a worthwhile pursuit."

Roughly 5:30 minutes.

Produced by Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie, who narrates. Camera by Paul Detrick, Tracy Oppenheimer, and Bragg.

The Art of Video Games exhibition is on display from March 16, 2012 through September 30, 2012.

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[bananafloat27]

best reason video ever

[Diraphe]

God damn nanny state Dems. How is it the political party that wants to ban video games, rap, rock, action movies, soda, guns, salt, etc. is the one that is most popular with younger generations?

Oh that is right; brainwashing from teachers.

[19marioandluigi85]

1029384756

[211Nickey22]

Im glad. They learned.

[moogle301]

Left might be more nanny-stateish in general but the right is less open-minded and does more crazy witchhunty stuff in general, so I'd say that's the reason.

Personally I've seen more negativity about video games from the right (in the recent years I've been following this at least). I'd be less likely to trust a right-wing news program to report on video games; the Fox News Mass Effect incident is just one example of overly conservative types just being fools.

Both left+right can be bad imo.

[MushroomGuy12]

thought they had everything (even the PC and commodore 64!)

but no ds, gameboy, or psp.

[grands1am]

Joe Lieberman is the worst

[LonleyKnight7]

hell yeah

[cwood4ever]

Ive played video games my whole life and yet Im not violent. RETARDS

[ForTehNguyen]

democrats claim to be pro choice, only if the choice is theirs

[yosoytacoseasoning]

no, it's that they can relate to the republicans even less.

[revolution4freedom1]

Its interesting how the Congressmen in the hearings, Joe Liberman and Herb Kohl, are both Jewish.... Then again, Liberman's moved on, and now wants Twitter banned. So no change there.. That same kook while he complains of "video game violence", now actively calls for bombing Iran just for Israel.