The online Oxford Dictionaries provides the following definition of entertainment: “…as an act of providing or being provided with pleasure or enjoyment while holding attention and interest of an audience. It may take on a number of forms such as attending an organized event or a performance, or any other activity that has been designed to amuse and provide pleasure. Entertainment also covers the action of receiving guests and providing them with food and drink” (Oxford Dictionaries online). According to the above definition, entertainment covers various areas, which include people coming together and go to live or exhibition entertainment activities, such as attending parks, art galleries, museums, circus, concerts, theatres, or sports events. Other types of entertainment that can be enjoyed by individuals include reading books, playing video games as well as other activities such as hiking or fishing. This essay will outline the history, evolution and development of entertainment and its purpose. It will then compare and contrast entertainment of today and the past.
The way that we entertain ourselves has evolved with us ages and with civilizations. People developed different ways to entertain themselves in order to pass free time, pass on cultural knowledge and skills to the young, and give people a chance to practice different skills that were needed during the time. (Zillman & Vorderer 3). Some of the oldest modes of entertainment are storytelling, dance, song, and competitions of physical strength. Precision and accuracy was particularly important for young hunters. Because the hunters needed to provide for the group. Legends that retold history and carried moral meanings were passed on from one generation to the next through stories and songs, this made sure that different customs and traditions were passed down from old to young. Storytelling, dance and music were also used during
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