It is difficult to know what quality consists of in the entertainment industry. In commercial enterprises quality is clearly related to their reason for being - profit. In the legal profession quality relates to winning cases, whether you are prosecuting or defending, but in the entertainment industry, the issue is not so clear-cut. Part of the problem relates to who is defining the word quality. Is it the recipients or the controllers of the industry? Profit is one way in which it could be adjudicated but it cannot be the sole judge of quality. Is the quality of the material being presented more important - does it enrich the viewer? Again it is unclear. Is empowering the viewer an aspect of quality? Because the industry crosses cultural, aesthetic, and financial boundaries and encompasses all those features it means that profit, enrichment and empowerment are all aspects that could be used to assess quality in the entertainment industry.
Profit is the most obvious definition of quality in the entertainment media and such a definition has value. When entertainment media products make a profit it leads to jobs, associated products and even international commerce is improved. Careers in the arts, fashion, journalism, advertising, sports can all flourish from profit-making entertainment media. But of course such an approach has many drawbacks. First, if profits are the measure of quality, then there will inevitably be much of the same in terms of material. One of the overwhelming rules of profit is, "if it works once, let's do it again." Hence "Lion King 2", "Speed 2", and so on. Moreover, the effect of a profit-making definition can also be seen in cheap but very non-artistic productions. Profit-making, as a definition of quality, stands in opposition to art because the most important element in creating art is the freedom to fail, both artistically and financially. In a profit-making environment, failure is an unacceptable reality that means you will probably not get a second chance.
Another way to ascertain quality is in terms of enrichment. The problem is that unlike profit, it is more difficult to know exactly what enrichment is. Something one enjoys is not necessarily enriching. And the above mentioned sequels, while giving pleasure, are not enrichment. Having stated what enrichment isn't however, doesn't help us come any closer to knowing what it is. According to the Cambridge dictionary, to enrich something means to improve the quality. In relation to the entertainment industry the improving factor should be:- something that is thought provoking. And according to that definition quite a few movies in popular culture can be classified as enriching.
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
Profit is the most obvious definition of quality in the entertainment media and such a definition has value. When entertainment media products make a profit it leads to jobs, associated products and even international commerce is improved. Careers in the arts, fashion, journalism, advertising, sports can all flourish from profit-making entertainment media. But of course such an approach has many drawbacks. First, if profits are the measure of quality, then there will inevitably be much of the same in terms of material. One of the overwhelming rules of profit is, "if it works once, let's do it again." Hence "Lion King 2", "Speed 2", and so on. Moreover, the effect of a profit-making definition can also be seen in cheap but very non-artistic productions. Profit-making, as a definition of quality, stands in opposition to art because the most important element in creating art is the freedom to fail, both artistically and financially. In a profit-making environment, failure is an unacceptable reality that means you will probably not get a second chance.
Another way to ascertain quality is in terms of enrichment. The problem is that unlike profit, it is more difficult to know exactly what enrichment is. Something one enjoys is not necessarily enriching. And the above mentioned sequels, while giving pleasure, are not enrichment. Having stated what enrichment isn't however, doesn't help us come any closer to knowing what it is. According to the Cambridge dictionary, to enrich something means to improve the quality. In relation to the entertainment industry the improving factor should be:- something that is thought provoking. And according to that definition quite a few movies in popular culture can be classified as enriching.
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
About the Author:
Looking to find the way to learn to read English reading comprehension #1, then visit www.academic-reading.com to find the best system on how to read English strategies and tips #2 which will have you reading like a pro.
