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Daniel Kolb

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Grant Us Eyes: The Art of Paradox in Bloodborne

by Nathan Wainstein

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Daniel Kolb said: " Grant Us Editors.

The Introduction to the book is not what I would consider good and reads like an attempt to justify nothing less than the medium of Video Games to his hipster art critic friends he met in college. The language (or dare I say prose) Grant Us Editors.

The Introduction to the book is not what I would consider good and reads like an attempt to justify nothing less than the medium of Video Games to his hipster art critic friends he met in college. The language (or dare I say prose) is uh dolled up to the point where unfortunately (or fortunately) it can come off as unintentionally comedic.

This author to his credit will go as far and to as strange places as Orpheus went for Eurydice to try to connect these concepts of Art criticism with the 2015 FromSoftware title.

This is my favorite quote so far so when you read it please picture it said by a wise old Academic ruminating by the fireplace: "Indeed, a rarely acknowledged paradox of this entire modern conception of negative form is precisely that it ends up elevating those features that, were one willing to risk vulgarity to say it, might otherwise seem like simple faults of craft."

The Introduction isn't poor simply because it is overwrought but because it too ignores the needs of the audience in service of the author's contemporaries and peers in his academic space. Someone who buys a book called The Art of Paradox in Bloodborne needs no long winded explanation or justification of such things that are already evident. Importantly they already are familiar with the game and have either played it or watched it. I think for the fans of these games all of us to some degree or another believe they are artistic creations and have merit. It almost as if the author struggles initially about whether the game really can be considered art and this is how the Introduction I think does more harm than good.

It's the same dynamic of the Comedian who has to 'explain' the joke. Those who understand comedy already get it so the Comedian explaining the joke violates that intimate connection between the audience and the Comedian. Just as comedy cannot be understood by everyone neither can something even more esoteric like a Japanese Video Game about Gothic/Lovecraftian horror. Know your audience.

I will say that the book does improve the more the author is able to just dive into the finer points of the game where we see that he does have a depth of knowledge about it and can go some interesting places.
One thing I appreciated is the zealousness of the Introduction is more of a crime of passion than a sin of omission. It becomes very clear that the author really loves the game he is writting about.

On the theme of paradox the references the book makes are some of the most colorful I've seen committed to paper. You want to show contrast? Try citing William Faulkner, and Homer alongside reddit users BlackhawkRogueNinjaX and....SexyJapanties(?!?!?!)

Although some would mock the author for citing reddit posts and comments in the same space as some of the greatest writers to ever live, I quite liked it because it shows the author as not being above the community of Soulsborne fans but instead integrated into it and respecting it. In some ways I'd like more of these references from normal everyday people who enjoy the games and have insight into them.

This is what I mean when I say the book does get better as time goes on.

I have not finished it but I would have to say that a work heavily referenced in this book "The Paleblood Hunt" by Redgrave is a superior work to this one.
I will finish this book and potentially be willing to revise my overall score upon its completion. ...more "

Jun 21, 2025 02:52PM · see review