Video games, contestation, and meaning: a strong program approach to studying artistic legitimation

• Published in: American journal of cultural sociology 2019-08, Vol.7 (2), p.174-213
• Main Author: McKernan, Brian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer & video games; Legitimation; Media Sociology; Narratives; Original Article; Social Sciences; Sociology; Sociology of art; Sociology of Culture
• ISSN: 2049-7113; 2049-7121
• DOI: 10.1057/s41290-018-0060-3

For a creative expression to be widely recognized as art, sociology of art scholars argue that proponents must apply a legitimizing discourse that supporters of past art forms have successfully used. Unfortunately, sociology of art scholars have ignored the affective connections people have with these art forms and how proponents draw upon these meanings in their push for legitimation. To be sensitive to this dimension, scholars must adopt principles from the Strong Program (SP) of cultural sociology. To demonstrate the insights we gain from a SP approach, I examine how video game fans responded to disparaging comments made by the prominent film critic Roger Ebert. My findings indicate that certain aspects of fans’ push for artistic recognition are consistent with previous research. However, fans also express meaningful attachments to video games, and this affective dimension influences the narratives they construct in their pushes for legitimation. Moreover, the narratives fans construct disagree on whether video games are or can become art. Despite these disagreements, all the narratives emerge from the same affective foundation. These findings demonstrate the need for sociologists to examine how pushes for artistic legitimation build upon a deeply felt foundation.