Entertainment: Establishing What Quality Is
Discussing the concept of quality in relation to the entertainment industry is difficult. Whereas a business has a clear aim; it must make money and as long as it does so, then it is fulfilling the demands of quality. In the medical profession as long as the patient gets better, then, the demands of quality have been similarly fulfilled. But what is quality in the entertainment industry? There are so many different directions that quality can go in. Is entertainment a business? Of course it is, but does that mean that its ability to make a profit is the sole criterion on which to assess its quality. Artistic value that enriches the recipient is an equally valid way to judge quality, as is empowerment.
Profitability is an important aspect of any business and the entertainment industry is no exception. Here the quality can be clearly measured by how many jobs it manages to generate, either in relation or in the wake of a project. During the project there is work for designers of various kinds, carpenters, electrical engineers, builders, and very often specialist advisors or stunt people. Following the project there are the international repercussions as theaters throughout the world make a profit on presenting the work. But with every advantage there is a disadvantage; and the disadvantage of profit is that it very often kills initiative. If profit is the measure of quality then there will be many repeats. After all if they made money the first time round, then, why not continue with a successful formula; and hence the films "Terminator 2," "Lethal Weapon 2 & 3" etc. But never ending sequels are only part of the problem. A major aspect is that art cannot be measured by how much money it makes and hence
artistic productions will decline if this is the measure of quality. Creativity is based on inspiration and thinking out of the box. Non-formulaic projects do not always succeed financially and hence if the profit motive is supreme they will be abandoned for the most part.
Quality can also be measured via enrichment. However, this is a somewhat difficult concept to define. Much of the material that is brought out by the entertainment industry is clearly not enriching. Shakespeare on the other hand is clearly enriching and so one way of reaching a definition is to decide what components are in Shakespeare's plays that are lacking in popular movies. If one looks at the timelessness of these plays, it is because they depict the painful responses to dilemmas we can all recognize in spirit if not in reality. So enrichment means a play or movie that makes us think, makes us wonder, what would we do in these circumstances? But we should not underestimate the ability of some modern movies to do just that.
Popular entertainment is enriching when it makes us think about our lives and reassess how we regard the world. Films such as "The Fisher King" or "Awakening" show us people struggling with real problems. The issues are often painful and do not involve the prescribed fairy tale ending where everyone lives happily ever after. On the contrary instead of standing up and dusting off the trauma and grief with a wry smile or a funny comment, which are the typical responses in the superficial popular movies, we see characters struggle to come to terms with life-changing events and that struggle is not always successful.
Empowerment is another aspect of quality that is slowly becoming more popular. One example is National Empowerment TV which had a clear agenda as the name explains. Founded by conservatives, its aim was to mobilize its viewers to donate time or money to specific causes; in other words to empower them and make them a part of something. Another and more practical example of empowerment are some of the Reality shows that have become so popular. "The Biggest Loser" illustrates how people who would normally be classified as "losers" can take control of their lives. Many of those watching the show are similarly inspired and even more important, similarly empowered. And when contestants publicly sponsor others to join in their battle of the bulge the idea of empowerment spreads accordingly.
It is impossible to separate the profit motive from quality, but as long as we, the viewers, let the entertainment media executives know that we want the enriching and empowering experiences then that is what we stand a chance of getting. We cannot allow ourselves to just sit by and watch passively what they choose to give us. We have to watch the shows that are not always comfortable, the shows that make us confront painful issues such as, drugs, grief, pain etc. or the shows that ask us to do something to change the situation. And as long as we watch these shows they will bring in a profit and we will get more of them and our lives will be further enriched and empowered. And we will no longer be merely passive receptacles being filled with what those in power want to give us.
Copyright: Academic Reading
Profitability is an important aspect of any business and the entertainment industry is no exception. Here the quality can be clearly measured by how many jobs it manages to generate, either in relation or in the wake of a project. During the project there is work for designers of various kinds, carpenters, electrical engineers, builders, and very often specialist advisors or stunt people. Following the project there are the international repercussions as theaters throughout the world make a profit on presenting the work. But with every advantage there is a disadvantage; and the disadvantage of profit is that it very often kills initiative. If profit is the measure of quality then there will be many repeats. After all if they made money the first time round, then, why not continue with a successful formula; and hence the films "Terminator 2," "Lethal Weapon 2 & 3" etc. But never ending sequels are only part of the problem. A major aspect is that art cannot be measured by how much money it makes and hence
artistic productions will decline if this is the measure of quality. Creativity is based on inspiration and thinking out of the box. Non-formulaic projects do not always succeed financially and hence if the profit motive is supreme they will be abandoned for the most part.
Quality can also be measured via enrichment. However, this is a somewhat difficult concept to define. Much of the material that is brought out by the entertainment industry is clearly not enriching. Shakespeare on the other hand is clearly enriching and so one way of reaching a definition is to decide what components are in Shakespeare's plays that are lacking in popular movies. If one looks at the timelessness of these plays, it is because they depict the painful responses to dilemmas we can all recognize in spirit if not in reality. So enrichment means a play or movie that makes us think, makes us wonder, what would we do in these circumstances? But we should not underestimate the ability of some modern movies to do just that.
Popular entertainment is enriching when it makes us think about our lives and reassess how we regard the world. Films such as "The Fisher King" or "Awakening" show us people struggling with real problems. The issues are often painful and do not involve the prescribed fairy tale ending where everyone lives happily ever after. On the contrary instead of standing up and dusting off the trauma and grief with a wry smile or a funny comment, which are the typical responses in the superficial popular movies, we see characters struggle to come to terms with life-changing events and that struggle is not always successful.
Empowerment is another aspect of quality that is slowly becoming more popular. One example is National Empowerment TV which had a clear agenda as the name explains. Founded by conservatives, its aim was to mobilize its viewers to donate time or money to specific causes; in other words to empower them and make them a part of something. Another and more practical example of empowerment are some of the Reality shows that have become so popular. "The Biggest Loser" illustrates how people who would normally be classified as "losers" can take control of their lives. Many of those watching the show are similarly inspired and even more important, similarly empowered. And when contestants publicly sponsor others to join in their battle of the bulge the idea of empowerment spreads accordingly.
It is impossible to separate the profit motive from quality, but as long as we, the viewers, let the entertainment media executives know that we want the enriching and empowering experiences then that is what we stand a chance of getting. We cannot allow ourselves to just sit by and watch passively what they choose to give us. We have to watch the shows that are not always comfortable, the shows that make us confront painful issues such as, drugs, grief, pain etc. or the shows that ask us to do something to change the situation. And as long as we watch these shows they will bring in a profit and we will get more of them and our lives will be further enriched and empowered. And we will no longer be merely passive receptacles being filled with what those in power want to give us.
Copyright: Academic Reading
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