Let us first see what the definition of art is, there are quite a few.
Definition of art
1
: skill acquired by experience, study, or observation the art of making friends
2
a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) arts plural : liberal arts
b archaic : learning, scholarship
3
: an occupation requiring knowledge or skill the art of organ building
4
a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects the art of painting landscapes; also : works so produced a gallery for modern art
b (1) : fine arts (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : one of the graphic arts
5
a archaic : a skillful plan
b : the quality or state of being artful (see artful 2a)
6
: decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter
Now if we look at programming there are many different coding languages thus different ways of expressions. Like other traditional art, there are still fundamentals you need to master to do stuff but there is definitely room for creativity. Just look at a lot of old video games in how they pushed performance to the max via creative ways. The old school pokemon games showed this extremely well with how many limitations they had or how about making best of Sega Genesis color palette. Look at the port of Castlevania 1 to the ZX spectrum, that isn't considered a work of art? These are all just technical things that they overcame. You can also come up with new ideas for new programs.
So wait a second here...Programming is an art? Since when? Is accounting an art too? How about brain surgery? Or doing groceries?...what about laundry?
In any case, putting brain surgery, accounting, groceries, and laundry is really a strawman argument. Most of that is usually linear with very little room for creativity other than deciding if I want to put hotpockets or not on the grocery list. Although if I were a betting man, im sure someone could come up with a argument for accounting to be a art since Wall Street have it down to a science like a work of art.
I don't get the logic that video games can't be considered art since at its core they are subjective and are a culmination of individual things considered art. Some people like certain ones, other people like others. Good game design at its core requires knowledge and experimentation imo, much like art. You can see its evolution/inovation in genres as time went on, with certain companies doing it better than others. Do you consider movies art? Same concept as movies have acting, music,screen writing, and artistic direction.
I agree that art is subjective.
In any case i'll agree they aren't considered traditional art, but they certainly have:creativity, skill, and expression which can be considered art.
