What constitutes "Entertainment"?

Question

I'm not asking for an Oxford or Merriam-Webster definition. Just opinions.

Things to consider:
Could something sad be considered entertainment, like a sad movie?
Could something that makes you angry be entertainment, such as Ann Coulter or Michael Moore -- whichever agers you; sports?

If you say yes to the above, what about watching the news on 9/11? Would that be "entertainment"?

Answer 1

That's a tough one.

a dictionary definition of entertainment: noun: a diversion that holds the attention

So entertainment is something which one participates in voluntarily and for reasons other than an ulterior motive. If one is in a life threatening situation, that is not entertainment because the reason it holds our attention is obvious. Similarly work is not entertainment because our goal in going to work is to earn a living. Entertainment is something one choses to participate in because participation is a reward in itself. It is a diversion since it does not further our life goals.



Some love tear jerkers. Back in silent movie days, they made special versions of the movies for the Russian market with sad endings. Russians liked sad endings. Normally there is no reason to go to a movie or a play or read a book except by choice. If people choose something with a sad ending, that is their choice and that is entertainment to them.



Some love to watch ideologs like Ann Coulter or Michael Moore. (I do not.) As long as the choice is volountary, that is entertainment. It obviously does not further any of their life goals and is a diversion. Some people like to get angry.



Lastly watching the news is certianly a diverison from making a living. Think about the news radio stations in whcih they repeat the same news every ten minutes; some people listen to things all day long. I can't figure out why, but that shows that the news is also a form of entertainment.



If you think about entertainment as a diversion, than any of those things you mentioned would be entertainement.

Answer 2

Which entertains u as u like is an entertainment.



for some body a sad movie may be entertaninment.



for some body something that makes angry be entertainment, such as Ann Coulter or Michael Moore



for some body creating 9/11 is entertainment



for somebodywatching the news on 9/11 may be entertainment

Answer 3

Entertainment is in the eye of the beholder. While I might be entertained by "Sleepless in Seattle," you could be playing a thousand rounds of Nintendo which would make me nauseous as well as bore me silly.



People like Ann Coulter and Michael Moore are definitely entertainment for me, at least most days. Every morning I turn on "The Today Show" and while it has news, I'd say I watch it more for the entertainment value.



Other entertainment items in my repertoire include books, Yahoo Answers, google, blogs, visiting museums and art galleries. While I can get as snooty as the next person and say my life is about "The Arts" or "Literature," the down and dirty is that I can find much about life to amuse and entertain.

Answer 4

Counterpoint from the BBC, 1967: A sitcom called "Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width". Way ahead of their time, as ever. This could be a subtitle for the debates and speechifying we've seen on both sides of the DMZ in American politics in recent years. As a corollary, I'll add this, put in the mouth of Law and Order's D.A.ironically played by Fred Thompson, a former Congressman and Presidential candidate in real life: "When these people use the word "integrity", what they really mean is money."

Answer 5

It’s funny how entertainment is almost always often relegated to modern mediums—movies, t.v., online games, etc. But in considering how the context of the term has changed over centuries, decades, and years, I’ve come to realize that entertainment is just anything that is relatively "amusing" to whomever is being entertained. So yeah, it’s purely subjective.



Some examples :



A car enthusiast - a car show



An astronomer - a comet shower



A packed Roman coliseum, circa 264 BC – A gladiator getting mauled



Me – a good book



And then there are folks who just like to watch paint dry...it varies across the board.

Answer 6

For me entertainment is to watch strippers in a cheap bar. Some of the things you listed above are news. But it all depends on the person. Sick people probably find tragedy amusing. Emotional people find "tugging the heartstrings" entertaining. Slobs like me find entertainment in the lower strata of life.

Answer 7

Anything that stimulates the mind is entertainment. Not all entertainment is good, thus answering your 9-11 question as well

Answer 8

to me entertainment is something that i enjoy watching. It makes me relax and amuses me...sad news or movies is not entertainment to me...anything that will anger me or make me feel sad is not entertainment...

Hey Anthony, did u get those 2 hearts from m name? I cant remember u asking me for permission to use them...cool it, just kidding...

Answer 9

Entertainment for me is watching a good film.

Answer 10

for me entertainment is to spend time with my friends or bf go shopping watch cool movie walk on the beach sunbathing or swimming just everything what i enjoy is my entertainment:)

Answer 11

I'm sorry Totia, but your comment or phrases of words thrown together did not make sense. (i.e. run on sentence)



Btw, if "entertainment" puts a smile on your face and or makes you laugh,feel good..etc...then that's entertainment in my view.

Answer 12

no all what u said r not entertainment not at all