“I would not exchange my leisure hours for all the wealth in the world.” - Comte de Mirabeau
One of the universal characteristics of the human race everywhere on the planet is its need to be entertained. We seek diversion in order to take a break from our daily work, a respite from our struggle to survive in an inimical world. Wherever we may care to look, from downtown Manhattan, to the remote mountain tribes of New Guinea, there is entertainment to be found. It varies of course, according to the culture under consideration, the nationality, the climate, the available time, the disposable income, and more importantly, what is on offer.
In ancient Greece, it was said: “Ο άνθρωπος ουκ επ’ άρτω μόνο ζήσεται”, that is, “man does not live by bread alone”. Athenians, in particular where rather spoilt and demanded “άρτον και θεάματα” (“bread and circuses”) from their politicians, and this led to the development of lyric poetry, theatre, sporting contests, amongst other things. The Romans went even further and in imperial times the entertainment was disproportionately more in its extent than the work that was carried out by the Roman citizens. Slaves and taxes from the provinces paid the piper.
With the advent of the Dark Ages, Western Europe descended into a rather drab existence, with most of the population subsisting on a hand-to-mouth existence with sparse and rather simple entertainments. The pageantry of church holy days and feasts, nevertheless provided for that human need for diversion. The rich could afford more sumptuous entertainments including mumming, fêtes, masques, jousts, fools to laugh at, minstrels, music and dances. The Byzantine Empire in the East was another matter and the lavish public entertainments that continued the Graeco-Roman tradition supplemented the pageantry of the church and kept the population well-entertained until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD.
From the Renaissance onwards until our days, entertainment has been developing and becoming more varied and rich in its diversity, until nowadays, there seems to be an infinite variety of entertainments and too little time to enjoy them all! We have a plethora of amusements for every age, every taste and every budget. Pubs, taverns, restaurants, cafés, bars, discos, function halls, exhibition halls, concert halls, opera houses, circuses, museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, cinemas, television, internet, stadiums, sportsgrounds, picnic grounds, parks, etc, etc, all attract their adherents and the multiplicity of diversions that one may enjoy therein.
We are entertained for our pleasure, we divert ourselves in order to relax, to enjoy our spare time, to fill our leisure hours with fun, to pursue our interests, hobbies and to amuse ourselves. Often, entertainment provides an outlet for our creativity and if one considers the related term “recreation”, the entertainment may have an important active component that goes beyond mere leisure.
It seems that more and more of our time is being devoted to recreation and more of our money is being spent on entertainment. Once upon a time, entertainment often was home-grown and cost little, if anything at all. One would amuse oneself or members of one’s family and friends. Gatherings of family and friends, singing around the piano, the playing of games, charades, cards, chess, reading, corresponding with pen-friends, drawing… Nowadays, simple pleasures are harder to come across and entertainment is a billion dollar industry worldwide. Talk of a recession, economic downturn, loss of jobs and scarcity of money does not seem to deter the pleasure seekers and restaurants are still full, bars congested, movie houses, sportsgrounds and arenas filled to capacity. We may be going down fast, but we shall have a good time of it!
Aptly, the word of the day for Word thursday is:
entertain |ˌentərˈtān| verb [ trans. ]
1 Provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment: A tremendous game that thoroughly entertained the crowd.
• Receive (someone) as a guest and provide them with food and drink: A private dining room where members could entertain groups of friends.
2 Give attention or consideration to (an idea, suggestion, or feeling): Washington entertained little hope of an early improvement in relations.
ORIGIN late Middle English: from French entretenir, based on Latin inter ‘among’ + tenere ‘to hold.’ The word originally meant [maintain, continue,] later [maintain in a certain condition, treat in a certain way,] also [show hospitality] (late 15th cent.).
entertainment |ˌentərˈtānmənt| noun
The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment: Everyone just sits in front of the TV for entertainment.
• An event, performance, or activity designed to entertain others: A theatrical entertainment.
• The action of receiving a guest or guests and providing them with food and drink.
What is your favourite entertainment?
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