To those who have been perplexed by the current trend of entertainment. In our society, today I have great news for you. Recent research has revealed that entertainment in the form of television, plays and movies serves as a pathway to curiosity and as a playground for creativity (Ozturk).
Most people enjoy various forms of entertainment such as dancing, reading, running in the woods, and visiting malls with friends or colleagues. There are numerous forms of entertainment that are of immense value to the society. Just think of how the world would look like in absence of entertainment. The life would appear boring, miserable and meaningless to people. Although entertainment fluctuates between age sets, the act of getting entertained is both multicultural and universal. Unmistakably, entertainment holds overwhelming weight in society and does not have the power or capability to destroy it. Therefore, the assertion that entertainment has the capability to ruin or is ruining or has ruined society is untrue. Actually, entertainment does not ruin society but it rather nurtures creativity and slightly teaches morals and history to individuals who might not comprehend through additional conventional ways.
Entertainment as a means to overcome mental illnesses
Most people use entertainment as a means to relax and to briefly run away from their many problems. Through participating in various forms of entertainment, the society has been able to defeat depression and other mental illnesses. Entertainment is useful because it allows people to relax, forget bad experiences or negative thoughts and to concentrate on the positive side of life. When the society is going through negative experiences or difficulties, there is high probability that the society will get into depression. Studies have reported that approximately 300 million people across the globe live with depression (World Health Organization). According to World Health Organization, the burden of depression and other mental disgorges is on rise worldwide (World Health Organization). The leading cause of disability in the whole world has been identified as depression. Evidently, depression can have devastating impacts on diverse groups of people. Therefore, there is need to prevent or otherwise fight this hazardous menace. Engaging in entertainment acts such as playing, running, dancing and many others can help the society overcome depression. Research has found that practicing physical exercise is essential for maintain healthy brain (Gershon, Bill and Steve 70). Nevertheless, most recent study has found that playing a video game allows teens to overcome depression (Granic, Adam and Rutger 66).
Entertainment as a tool for teaching history and morals
Generally, entertainment is fun and weird, and it teaches agreed morals. Although these morals may be difficult to learn via everyday circumstances, they must be adopted. Teaching history and morals through textbooks may be boring and less enjoyable (Granic, Adam and Rutger 66). However, entertainment industry may make teaching or learning history interesting, enjoyable and lively. Teaching history through videos or films draws attention of learners and males the learning process entertaining. Daniel Day Lewis’s representation of Abraham Lincoln in ‘’Lincoln’’ is a classic example of a historical character that was brought to life through entertainment industry. This movie has demonstrated the life of Abraham Lincoln (Former America’s President), as well as numerous events during the entire history of United States including the famous Civil War. Various forms of entertainment provide individuals who may not have ability or time to read books with an opportunity to learn history and morals. Many kids may not be outstanding readers or good listeners of stories and fairytales. As a consequence, passing societal morals, norms and values to such children may be quite challenging. Entertainment forms such as films have been found to be effective in teaching vital morals to children.
Entertainment as a pathway to curiosity and a playground for creativity
Different types of entertainment like plays and movies serve as a pathway for curiosity (Ozturk), as well as a playground for creativity. Based on my individual experience, entertainment has been pivotal in developing my career growth and in solving many challenges that I have encountered throughout my day-day life. In fact, watching movies and playing different games has helped me to grow my ambition to become a useful and responsible person in the society. Entertainment allows the society to view unfamiliar aspects of life in new perspective or dimension. Observing other people and learning from their mistakes or deeds often sparks ideas. This is not different with entertainment. Entertainment presents events or scenarios where individuals ought to make challenging decisions. The society is able to make informed decisions about important life events by watching the path that was followed by a certain individual. Scientists, as well as researchers use entertainment to find solutions for scientific problems. Movies and videos present essential skills and ideas that scientists can employ to come up with innovative designs. For example, Lightsabers that was developed in George Lucas science fiction trilogy Star Wars has publicly been brought to limelight. Ostensibly speaking, entertainment created a world of knowledge and ideas that promotes creativity, innovation and curiosity.
Opponents' viewpoint on the negative impacts of entertainment
Opponents would argue that entertainment ruins society by promoting moral decay and laziness. For example, they would argue that presence of gruesome aspects in a movie ruin morals of both participants and audience (Gershon, Bill and Steve 70). Others would claim that entertainment is destroying society because the present children prefer watching movies or television to reading books, something which they associate with reduced creativity and inability to solve problems. Even though I acknowledge to a certain degree that some forms of entertainment such as exceedingly violent games may prove destructive to the emerging generation of children, I maintain that it is ludicrous to assert that the entertainment inherently ruins the society. In fact, I term this claim as indicative of a frail understanding held by antagonists of entertainment over the primary fundamentals of society. In contrast, entertainment can be beneficial in society by imparting creativity, and teaching morals and history of the society. As a matter of fact, research has revealed that entertainment has the potential to alleviate depression and other mental illnesses from the society (Gershon, Bill and Steve 68).
In conclusion, entertainment does not have the capacity to destroy society
or cause its downfall but instead it imparts creativity to members of society. In addition, it is used as a tool to teach morals and history to society (Ozturk). Most important, entertainment saves the society from getting into depression. Lack of entertainment would make life appear meaningless and without purpose. Therefore, it is essential to allow numerous forms of entertainment in society to make life interesting and enjoyable.
Works Cited
Nahum, Bill Kapralos, and Steve Mann. "Games, Entertainment, and Media for Life, Health, and Community: IEEE GEM 2014." IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine 4.3 (2015): 67-72.
Granic, Isabela, Adam Gershon Lobel, and Rutger CME Engels. "The benefits of playing video games." American psychologist 69.1 (2014): 66.
Ozturk, R. Gulay, ed. Handbook of Research on the Impact of Culture and Society on the Entertainment Industry. IGI Global, 2014.
World Health Organization. "Depression: Key Facts." (2015).
