Today is the big day for Nintendo’s major announcement. In just a few hours, they’ll be showing off a roughly 60-minute video about the Switch 2 and all that comes with this new console. Many people couldn’t care less about a new Nintendo console—and I get that (well, I don’t really get it, I just know such people exist)—but for me, the anticipation has the same atmosphere as those first days of December back in my childhood, when I was aware that Christmas break was almost here. What does any of this have to do with Artcade? I’ll get to it.
Here’s a quick rundown of everything in the art world I’ve waited (or am still waiting) for with equal joy and curiosity. I hope you’ll find something that resonates with you, and if you like, share your own personal “waits” in the comments. I’m very curious.
This friendly-faced fellow is George R. R. Martin (two R’s because his full name is George Raymond Richard Martin). He’s the author who created Game of Thrones. The only problem is that, ever since the TV series became wildly successful, he’s been busy writing spin-offs, appearing at every event, and collaborating with just about everyone. Case in point, he wrote the lore for Elden Ring, a hugely popular video game. But what about the end of the saga? I discovered Game of Thrones through the TV show and would happily read the books, but knowing he hasn’t yet finished writing the sixth and seventh volumes, I’m left with no choice but to wait.
Speaking of TV series, let’s talk for a second about Severance. I loved the first season with its David Lynch–like vibe, but as soon as the second season came out, they announced the third. My desire to watch something that will leave me hanging is zero. So what now? Now we wait.
Let’s move to something I waited on intensely in the past: the first movie in Nolan’s Batman trilogy was great, but it was basically just the origin story of a superhero. The second movie, thanks in part to Heath Ledger’s Joker, took things to another level, and the superhero aspect serves mostly as a vehicle for everything else. The Dark Knight moves from social criticism to political analysis, from the fate of those in power to what can be done with that power—all within a stunning action movie. When I saw it, I thought the third movie would blow my mind. Then I saw The Dark Knight Rises and thought, Well, that was okay. And I went back to rewatch the second one.
Speaking of unfulfilled expectations: the first time I went to Paris was on a trip with my grandparents and my uncle. I remember that one of the few things I knew about the Louvre was that I’d find the Mona Lisa there—an artwork I’d studied over and over, since the books said it was one of Leonardo’s masterpieces (and a highlight of painting in general). Then I got there and found a huge crowd taking photos instead of actually looking at the painting. Maybe that’s why it didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I recall looking forward to seeing it more than the moment I actually saw it. This also says a lot about the mechanics of happiness, which function more or less like a Ponzi scheme.
Let’s wrap up with the anticipation of a concert or a theater performance. These two situations always get me emotional—there’s no escaping it. The photo here, specifically, depicts the Teatro di Ostia Antica, built shortly before the birth of Christ. After several expansions, it once held up to 4,000 spectators. Today, you reach the archaeological park by car, then walk among the pine trees and Roman ruins—a stroll well worth the price of admission. Along the way, you glimpse the stage lights in the distance, with the thought that the show will begin soon. What a wonder.
Today is April 2. It’s been eight years since Nintendo last released a console, and there are only a few hours left until the next one. What else is there to say?