Analysis of "Agency as Art" by C. Thi Nguyen

C. Thi Nguyen's "Agency as Art" is a chapter from his book "Games: Agency as Art" published by Oxford University Press, which is a world-renowned, highly reputable academic publisher. The chapter is certainly worthy of the publishing house and is a finely written, scholarly piece that fits nicely into the expected style of academic writing. In this case, the field into which it applies is the field of game studies and philosophy. The intended audience appears to be scholars, students, and even enthusiasts in the field of game studies, philosophy, and even digital humanities.

Nguyen's main argument is that games are a unique form of art that allow players to explore different forms of agency. What does this mean? Essentially, Nguyen is referring to the idea that games provide a space for players to exercise control, a space where they can make decisions for themselves about their own play, a space where they can experience the consequences of those decisionsinteractivelyin a way that is wholly different from other forms of art. Nguyen argues that games are not just about achieving arbitrary goals but rather are also about the process of working towards those goals. This process, according to Nguyen, is what makes games a distinctive art form. He states, "A game uses all these elements to sculpt a form of activity. And when we play games, we take on an alternate form of agency" (p. 1). And, just like a film or a play is a collective work of art, a game is also a kind of collective form of art in which the player brings his own agency to the work, just as a dramatist might bring the script, the actor the performance, the set designer a stage, and so on. All of that is part of gaming, too, just in a different medium.

Thus, in the context of these games, "agency" refers to the ability of a player to make choices and take actions within the game world, as an actor might on a...…the game designer ("Games, then, are a unique social technology..." 1) can be tied back to the overarching theme of agency and its artistic representation in games.

Assessing the credibility of Nguyen's chapter is easy enough. Firstly, his association with Oxford University Press, which is a renowned academic publisher, lends weight to his work. Secondly, his constant referencing and engagement with other scholars shows the depth of his research and understanding and willingness to engage other thoughts and ideas.

Overall, Nguyen's "Agency as Art" is a well-written exploration of games as a unique form of art. His work is well-researched and his arguments are supported by a range of sources, making it a valuable contribution to the field of game studies. The complexity of his thought, the style of his writing, and the academic nature of his work all could limit its accessibility to a broader more general audience. But for a student of the topic, of the field, or of the philosophy behind the theory, it makes for a very interesting and insightful…