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
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. The agency is his own. From deciding which path to take...…critique of Jane McGonigal's work ("But this mistakes how peculiar game values are..." p. 21).
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…
