Peter Shr - Week 11 - Entertainment's Impact
Complaints of people at the dinner table not focusing on their families have evolved. It went from people being engrossed in their novels to newspapers, radios, and today, their phones.
Entertainment has played an increasing role in our lives. Considering that mass culture once did not exist and most could not afford anything outside of food just a few hundred years ago, society’s emphasis on entertainment today is surprising. A lot of this is due to the average growth of wealth, technology, and a capitalistic society that, despite its criticisms, provides a level of individual autonomy. I want to examine how the various forms of entertainment have such a large impact on our everyday lives.
Today, the main forms include social media, television, and sports. Transferred instantaneously through the internet, the Digital Age has enabled entertainment to reach a wide audience. This has furthered the sense of a united group and the illusion of a cyber world. The speed at which information travels inspires a unique culture in which people can freely express themselves without any social pressure. Social media like Instagram and TikTok embrace these appeals to engage the general public for monetary purposes. The Internet’s oversaturation of media raises people's expectations of entertainment and reduces their attention spans, and social media caters to their needs with short-form content. As a result, people worldwide spend hours of their days mindlessly scrolling through these applications until they tire themselves out or feel the need to be productive. It has become a problematic addiction for many, demonstrating entertainment’s tremendous effects on the world.
Sports has long been a unifying source of entertainment, with games being played in ancient civilizations. The development of radio and television led to a cycle between increasing viewership and expanding industry. Thus, more people attended the games, which became more prestigious and competitive. The average NBA salary went from $15,000 in 1960 to 9.7 million dollars today, exemplifying the rise of revenue and the relevance sports leagues have on society. The Super Bowl, the league championship game of the NFL, is among the most popular annual events in the United States. With fans paying thousands for tickets and companies spending millions for commercials, the revenue the Super Bowl generates ranges over $1.3 billion. Beyond the game’s role in determining championships, it attracts millions of other viewers because of its cultural significance. The most popular celebrities attend and perform during halftime shows. People gather at parties, demonstrating how the Super Bowl unifies the nation for one afternoon for socialization, food, and entertainment.
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In the end, society’s development of liberty and technology has enabled people to spend less time working and more time satisfying their wants. Whether this is a reflection of our growing desires or a revelation of what we have long yearned for is another question to consider. Personally, I believe the numerous sources of entertainment reward a bit of dopamine but do not replace the family’s role in providing happiness.
More on social media’s role in society: www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/12/06/views-of-social-media-and-its-impacts-on-society-in-advanced-economies-2022/
Hi Peter! Thank you for sharing this blog with us. I enjoyed your discussion on the evolution of common forms of entertainment through history. I specifically appreciated how you put emphasis on the forces driving change, which in our modern society is digital technology. I believe that the topic about people getting addicted to their technology is relevant as there are more and more distractions that pop up online everyday. In the realm of technology, the Apple Vision goggles recently got released and I have seen videos of how people are completely engrossed with these goggles and are oblivious to their surroundings. I was particularly interested by your discussion on how sports serve as a unifying source of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteLike you mentioned on your blog, the superbowl unites people across the country at a level that almost no other events do. After the superbowl this year, I saw a statistic that said that this year's superbowl was the most watched telecast in American history. That was really surprising to me but it also served as a testement of just how powerful sports are at creating a common bond between people, no matter the circumstances. To speak to how influential the superbowl and entertainment is in shaping the desires and thoughts of a nation, the average superbowl ad this year cost over seven million dollars. If a corporation is willing to spend that much money on a thirty-second ad, it means that the ad, and therefore the game, has an extraordinary level of influence.
Once again, thank you for sharing this topic as it allows for some important self-reflection. Of course, it is also important to remember that there are other forms of entertainment other than mass media -- time with family is one of these that you mentioned in the blog. I am interested to see how mass entertainment evolves in the future, as it has evolved so much in just the last fifty years.
Hi Peter! Entertainment has changed quite a bit, even in recent years. Although, in my family, we are not allowed to look at anything else during dinner, I have noticed that I do not talk as much to my brother as a form of entertainment—we are usually on our computers, playing video games, or watching YouTube. Social media’s popularity in the modern world is transparent as many of the popular apps today debuted in the 2000s, 2010s, or even in the last few years. Another example of how important social media is can be shown through the fact that colleges sometimes look at their prospective students’ social media. The content of the account could play a factor in determining if you get admitted into the school. Not only is social media prevalent as a source of entertainment, but it can also heavily impact our futures. Furthermore, I’m amazed at how much the NBA salary increased, and the amount of money the Super Bowl can generate as well. I especially agree with the final statement of your blog about how family ties are irreplaceable when it comes to happiness. When I went on a walk with the rest of my family for the first time in a while, I got to talk to them without any distractions for an extended time. Sometimes, social media brings dread and is tiring with the constant need to maintain a good image (similar to socializing in person), but being with family is a chance to show your true self to people who genuinely love and appreciate you. Your blog was excellently worded and informative, great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you started your blog, posing a scenario how people spend much more of their time at the dinner table with their cell phone rather than with the people around them. It is certainly a scenario which I’m sure many people are familiar with, making it a great way to start your blog. One thing I really found interesting in your blog was how you mentioned that the recent development of technology actually promotes greater levels of individual autonomy. I’ve heard many opinions about the negative effects of the cyber world, but your approach on how the cyber world, which allows information to travel at very high speeds, actually provides us with the freedom to express ourselves without any social pressure is truly unique. I enjoyed how you not only mentioned the positives to emerging technologies but also the negatives which are being used by social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. While these appeals to our individual freedom are good and promote better autonomy, they are also misused very often for monetary purposes, as you mention in your blog. I couldn’t agree more with you on how the oversaturation on social media prompts people to scroll mindlessly and endlessly, decreasing productivity and stimulating addictive problems. I also really enjoyed your conclusion as it ties back to the starting point you made about eating dinner and spending more time with electronic devices than with family. Overall, your examination of how entertainment has such a large impact on our daily lives is certainly very enlightening and I really enjoyed reading your blog.
Hello Peter! Entertainment. It is the essence for many people around the world and it is what many cherish, including myself. I believe that entertainment is necessary in our world especially with the great deal of stress that exists from jobs, work, relationships etc. At a younger age however, it is a good idea to take a break sometimes! Undestanding when to stop, but restricting the amount of time used for entertainment is always a good option. I was told when I was younger that we should have a five minute break after working for a long time and becomes beven more true now that this topc if mentioned. To have a quick breather, a short relaxing second, goes a long way in the day and helps to liven the mood. As humans revolve around how we feel and act, entertainment allows us to stay on the correct track if handled correctly. Time limits and structure in entertainment are valued as a source of joy and a source of pain in ill times. Overall, this blog brought up a lot of facinating points that got my mind working. Great work!
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