This review contains spoilers
Arcane Kids made one of the most sincere and thoughtful analysis on the culture behind human consumption of art.
The very use of Bubsy as the protagonist creates a very interesting contradiction, exploring the meaning of art using Bubsy as its protagonist is essencial, because he represents just that, the LOWEST of LOW ART, a 90s videogame (which by itself wasn't considered the highest of art forms) and not only that, but one that has been universally panned since forever.
The Epilogue, which shos Bubsy as a washed up artist is where the real meat of what the game's message is resides.
In Bubsy's dialogue in relation to that art exhibition that contains a giant boulder, you can see what his character really is about, the notion that you should make something that lasts for generations and is "timeless", make your mark on the world, something that many artists think about and hope to achieve, when he goes to that underground place, you see statues of many famous artists whose art is considered timeless, as he becomes one of them.
When Bubsy chooses "humanity" over "art", the game devolves into Bubsy spinning and shooting zombies in a way of showing that Bubsy rejects the very notion of "high art", returning to what's considered "kitsch" or "low art", because that's how he wants to express himself, so that's what he'll do.
The part about Bubsy himself becoming a statue to be put on display also comments about again, the separation between art and human self-expression in that Bubsy's life, his existence, is just part of his life's work, it's just another piece in his catalogue.
Bubsy's art isn't Bubsy's self-expression anymore, Bubsy's life is simply another one of his own artworks.
In the public's view, Bubsy's artwork hasn't happened because of his personal experiences, thoughts and life in general, his whole life is just the background for his artwork.
The search for timelessness and artistry robs art of human self-expression.
The very use of Bubsy as the protagonist creates a very interesting contradiction, exploring the meaning of art using Bubsy as its protagonist is essencial, because he represents just that, the LOWEST of LOW ART, a 90s videogame (which by itself wasn't considered the highest of art forms) and not only that, but one that has been universally panned since forever.
The Epilogue, which shos Bubsy as a washed up artist is where the real meat of what the game's message is resides.
In Bubsy's dialogue in relation to that art exhibition that contains a giant boulder, you can see what his character really is about, the notion that you should make something that lasts for generations and is "timeless", make your mark on the world, something that many artists think about and hope to achieve, when he goes to that underground place, you see statues of many famous artists whose art is considered timeless, as he becomes one of them.
When Bubsy chooses "humanity" over "art", the game devolves into Bubsy spinning and shooting zombies in a way of showing that Bubsy rejects the very notion of "high art", returning to what's considered "kitsch" or "low art", because that's how he wants to express himself, so that's what he'll do.
The part about Bubsy himself becoming a statue to be put on display also comments about again, the separation between art and human self-expression in that Bubsy's life, his existence, is just part of his life's work, it's just another piece in his catalogue.
Bubsy's art isn't Bubsy's self-expression anymore, Bubsy's life is simply another one of his own artworks.
In the public's view, Bubsy's artwork hasn't happened because of his personal experiences, thoughts and life in general, his whole life is just the background for his artwork.
The search for timelessness and artistry robs art of human self-expression.