Over the holidays I finished reading the critically
acclaimed novel Station Eleven. The
story mirrors many other post-apocalyptic narratives, from civilization-ending
viruses to eerie abandoned homes that might harbor unspoiled food. Yet the book
still manages to feel immensely different from most other apocalyptic stories,
and I think that sense of distinction results from a concept that the author herself describes as the novel’s thesis statement: survival is insufficient. I
won’t expound on that any further in hopes of avoiding meaningful spoilers.
That line—the motto of the Traveling Symphony, a nomadic orchestra
and troupe of Shakespearean actors that tours the post-apocalyptic landscape—actually
first appeared in an episode of Star Trek:
Voyager and two characters in the book argue over if that fact cheapens the
impact of the motto. Like the character Kristen, who also has the line tattooed
on her forearm, I disagree with that sentiment. Art takes many forms, and there’s
no inherent disconnect between someone who loves Shakespeare, symphonies, and
Star Trek.
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| "Inspiring people to rise beyond mere survival and reach out toward the stars" (Image found here on Cubed3) |
As a game developer, I take pride in the idea of games as
art. I don’t bat an eye when a pop culture critic like Dan Olson (from the
YouTube series Folding Ideas) follows a critique of the film 300 with a review of Skyrim. I don’t think that means every
video game needs to strive to be philosophically dense fine art, any more than Star Trek: Voyager needed to attempt to
be Shakespeare. But video games, sci-fi television, classic theater, and novels
all offer a glimpse of humanity, inspiring people to rise beyond mere survival
and reach out toward the stars. The mundanity of actual game development can
sometimes obscure the potential of the final product, so I’m grateful that
Station Eleven reminded me of the impact art, in all its forms, can have on our
current society and even societies of the future.
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