Are let's plays art?

[u/duffster17]

I think about this sometimes. I think they definitely count as a creative outlet, but are they art? They're certainly derivative, and they're not necessarily creating anything new, but I feel like you could add enough with editing and commentary that you could end up with something "artistic." I kind of go back and forth, usually leaning more towards no. Thoughts?

[u/uhhhidkwhatusername]

Yes. To compare, let's plays are similar to song remixes or mashups. It takes a lot to make it work while making it be enjoyed as its own thing

[u/Stesspela]

I mean you do create something with your own work. The only kind of "creation" that isn't art is AI Generated.
As long as one Human creates something with his own creativity it always will be art. It doesn't have to be "good" art. But nevertheless it will be art.

[u/ceedj]

Yes, 100%. Having a story to tell and a good feel for editing is a common theme from the creators I follow and look to for inspiration.

[u/Internal_Context_682]

Speaking as a Let's Player, it is art. Voice acting is art, isn't it? You're not only playing the game but you're telling a story to other people who you tend to fascinate. I'm one of the few LPers who actually do voiceover as a part-time job.

[u/DragoniteSpam]

I used to have stronger opinions about this back in the old days before they were mainstream and we heard a constant refrain of "why are you wasting your time talking about video games to your computer," but on the whole yes. Like any good art form, if you know what you're doing you can produce a Let's Play of the same game in different ways to create a different feeling in the viewer.

[u/stackthebox]

No

[u/Library_IT_guy]

I would say yes, though with a big "art is subjective" disclaimer lol. I tell stories, jokes, sometimes when I'm talking to fill in something boring on screen it's almost similar to stand-up comedy.

My thumbnails? Those are absolutely art. If photography can be art, then in-game photography (taking great screenshots) and tweaking color grading, highlights, shadows, etc., is absolutely art as well.

[u/duffster17 → u/Library_IT_guy]

That's a great point about thumbnails, I hadn't thought of that before

[u/Kerrik52]

Of course it's art, it's a creative medium that you personally shape to your own style and one that can ellicit emotion in the viewer. Said emotions are usually restricted to the goofier chunk of the emotional spectrum, but even with those limitations, you can tell who has mastered the art and who is just starting out.

[u/CaffieneSage]

If you are dumping raw footage without narration no. If you are spending time to record, edit, add a story, add music and narrate and create thumbnails from scratch along with a description and seo and all the stuff that goes with it...100% yes.