Entertainment & Comedy: What is the purpose and result?
Posted: August 7th, 2015, 10:16 pm
First post so bear with me
The context of my thought(and question) comes from reading an blog about the current US presidential race and how Donald trump is "a golden egg laying goose for comedians".
The rise in comedians in general and the entertainment businesses with both comedies and other genres seems to be getting bigger and bigger and with much influence in society. Perhaps it is just the evolution of technology that advances this further than before. However, is it the seeming lack of respect for "leaders/politicians"(possibly because they do not deserve/earn it) that leads to people to turn to more entertainments to "relax", enjoy themselves and "blow off some steam" at the end of the day/week.
Are these entertainments required to be at peace with the worrisome world and its apparently out of touch leaders? I absolutely love comedy, especially that of the George Carlin ilk but feel that it is almost poisonous (although sometimes inspiring) to my well being once I am left to ponder these "jokes" which are usually just an astute and yet abstractly illustrative observation of the reality that we are living. Not only are comedians/actors not taken as seriously outside of their media(and some should not be) by any of our leaders but they appear to perhaps cause angst amongst people especially with sensitive topics. Yes there have been entertainers who have become leaders themselves (Schwartzenegger & Ronald Ragan off the top of my head) but they are not taken as seriously by other people when compared with the life of apparent community servitude of a career politician.
The idea that an industry of entertainment can be made from mocking the seemingly ridiculousness of public policy to me is concerning albeit enjoyable depending on your views.
Perhaps I have a pessimistic view on things but i think we can agree that all is not well as ignorance and suffering is everywhere, in every culture.
Is entertainment and comedy just a sign of a prosperous culture or a looking glass into the problems within society?
Is it a good thing to have? Or one that provides insight into how stuffed we are?
Looking forward to a discussion
Thankyou
The context of my thought(and question) comes from reading an blog about the current US presidential race and how Donald trump is "a golden egg laying goose for comedians".
The rise in comedians in general and the entertainment businesses with both comedies and other genres seems to be getting bigger and bigger and with much influence in society. Perhaps it is just the evolution of technology that advances this further than before. However, is it the seeming lack of respect for "leaders/politicians"(possibly because they do not deserve/earn it) that leads to people to turn to more entertainments to "relax", enjoy themselves and "blow off some steam" at the end of the day/week.
Are these entertainments required to be at peace with the worrisome world and its apparently out of touch leaders? I absolutely love comedy, especially that of the George Carlin ilk but feel that it is almost poisonous (although sometimes inspiring) to my well being once I am left to ponder these "jokes" which are usually just an astute and yet abstractly illustrative observation of the reality that we are living. Not only are comedians/actors not taken as seriously outside of their media(and some should not be) by any of our leaders but they appear to perhaps cause angst amongst people especially with sensitive topics. Yes there have been entertainers who have become leaders themselves (Schwartzenegger & Ronald Ragan off the top of my head) but they are not taken as seriously by other people when compared with the life of apparent community servitude of a career politician.
The idea that an industry of entertainment can be made from mocking the seemingly ridiculousness of public policy to me is concerning albeit enjoyable depending on your views.
Perhaps I have a pessimistic view on things but i think we can agree that all is not well as ignorance and suffering is everywhere, in every culture.
Is entertainment and comedy just a sign of a prosperous culture or a looking glass into the problems within society?
Is it a good thing to have? Or one that provides insight into how stuffed we are?
Looking forward to a discussion
Thankyou