About the book
How games create beauty and meaning, and how we can use them to explore the aesthetics of thought.
Are games art? This question is a dominant mode of thinking about games and play in the twenty-first century, but it is fundamentally the wrong question. Instead, Frank Lantz proposes in his provocative new book, The Beauty of Games, that we think about games and how they create meaning through the lens of the aesthetic. We should think of games, he writes, the same way we think about literature, theater, or music—as a form that ranges from deep and profound to easy and disposable, and everything in between. Games are the aesthetic form of interactive systems, a set of possibilities connected by rules of cause and effect.
In this book, Lantz analyzes games from chess to poker to tennis to understand how games create beauty and evoke a deeper meaning. He suggests that we think of games not only as hyper-modern objects but also as forms within the ancient context of artistic production, encompassing all of the nebulous and ephemeral qualities of the aesthetic experience.
Editions of The Beauty of Games
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262048538
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262376297
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262376303
Read an Excerpt
How games create beauty and meaning, and how we can use them to explore the aesthetics of thought.
Are games art? This question is a dominant mode of thinking about games and play in the twenty-first century, but it is fundamentally the wrong question. Instead, Frank Lantz proposes in his provocative new book, The Beauty of Games, that we think about games and how they create meaning through the lens of the aesthetic. We should think of games, he writes, the same way we think about literature, theater, or music—as a form that ranges from deep and profound to easy and disposable, and everything in between. Games are the aesthetic form of interactive systems, a set of possibilities connected by rules of cause and effect.
In this book, Lantz analyzes games from chess to poker to tennis to understand how games create beauty and evoke a deeper meaning. He suggests that we think of games not only as hyper-modern objects but also as forms within the ancient context of artistic production, encompassing all of the nebulous and ephemeral qualities of the aesthetic experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Beauty of Games about?
How games create beauty and meaning, and how we can use them to explore the aesthetics of thought.
Are games art? This question is a dominant mode of thinking about games and play in the twenty-first century, but it is fundamentally the wrong question. Instead, Frank Lantz proposes in his provocative new book, The Beauty of Games, that we think about games and how they create meaning through the lens of the aesthetic. We should think of games, he writes, the same way we think about literature, theater, or music—as a form that ranges from deep and profound to easy and disposable, and everything in between. Games are the aesthetic form of interactive systems, a set of possibilities connected by rules of cause and effect.
In this book, Lantz analyzes games from chess to poker to tennis to understand how games create beauty and evoke a deeper meaning. He suggests that we think of games not only as hyper-modern objects but also as forms within the ancient context of artistic production, encompassing all of the nebulous and ephemeral qualities of the aesthetic experience.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Beauty of Games?
Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure > Hobbies, quizzes and games > Indoor games > Board, table top and strategy games
Where can I read a sample of The Beauty of Games?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262048538
Is The Beauty of Games part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Playful Thinking
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Beauty of Games?
Frank Lantz
Who is the Publisher of the book The Beauty of Games?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Beauty of Games is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262048538) and ebook(ISBN 9780262376297) and ebook(ISBN 9780262376303)
Where can I buy The Beauty of Games online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Beauty of Games from below
Where can I buy The Beauty of Games?