There was a time back in the dim and dusty past (before the days of television) when politicians were rarely seen or heard except at election time. News of what the politicians were up to was reported in newspapers and on the radio, of course; but newspapers were printed once or twice a day, and radio news aired only for five minutes every half hour or so.
Today, television news networks broadcast 24/7, and politicians have nowhere to hide anymore. Twenty-four-hour news networks need MATERIAL to broadcast, so politics and politicians have become a form of entertainment. The actions of politicians rank right up there with fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes in viewer appeal.
We all have preconceived ideas of what our politicians should look like and sound like. We certainly expect our politicians to be above reproach. So when a politician gets caught with his "hand in the cookie jar" or "with his pants down," it's news; and the politicians become the "stars," or at least the subjects, of network news programs.
The question is whether politics as entertainment is a good thing or a bad thing. It's just my opinion, but I think that this is an excellent turn of events. Political apathy is practically impossible. Everybody talks about politics and politicians because that's what's "on" television.
A greater percentage of Americans have registered to vote this year than ever before in history. More people write, phone, and email their congressional representatives today that ever before in history. In short, more people know what their political representatives are doing today, and they care enough to say what they think, they care enough to register to vote, and they care enough to actually cast ballots. That will make for better government for all of us.
I'm glad that politics has become a form of entertainment!
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Television as Entertainment
We can't imagine life without television today. Almost every household in the nation has at least ONE television set, and most have more than one. We pick up our remote controls and push a button that turns on the television set and other buttons that change channels (there are hundreds of choices) without giving a single thought to the miracle of the medium.
And the medium is a technological miracle that was many years in the making. First came recorded sound — the technology miracle that allowed sound to be recorded and then replayed. Then came the technology miracle of moving pictures. The two technologies were merged, and we got the "talkies." The world that wasn't long past the age of the horse and buggy was astounded! America LOVED the movies!
But back there behind the scenes were the inventors and scientists who dreamed of even more advanced technology. The idea was to send sound and pictures over the air waves directly into people's homes — television! The early pilgrims into the new world of television were laughed at and ridiculed. But they kept on investigating, trying things out, and finally we got early television. Imagine! Entertainment in your own home with the push of a button! This was amazing stuff! America LOVED television as much as they loved movies and the world of entertainment was brought into living rooms everywhere — or, almost everywhere.
Television technology has continued to be developed. What wasn't possible a few years ago is not only possible, but "old hat" today. We have instant access to what is happening all over the world. If a plane crashes in the jungles of Africa, we know it NOW! If a movie star gets arrested for drug use, we know it NOW. Instant information and entertainment with the push of a button has become commonplace thanks to that amazing medium, television!
And the medium is a technological miracle that was many years in the making. First came recorded sound — the technology miracle that allowed sound to be recorded and then replayed. Then came the technology miracle of moving pictures. The two technologies were merged, and we got the "talkies." The world that wasn't long past the age of the horse and buggy was astounded! America LOVED the movies!
But back there behind the scenes were the inventors and scientists who dreamed of even more advanced technology. The idea was to send sound and pictures over the air waves directly into people's homes — television! The early pilgrims into the new world of television were laughed at and ridiculed. But they kept on investigating, trying things out, and finally we got early television. Imagine! Entertainment in your own home with the push of a button! This was amazing stuff! America LOVED television as much as they loved movies and the world of entertainment was brought into living rooms everywhere — or, almost everywhere.
Television technology has continued to be developed. What wasn't possible a few years ago is not only possible, but "old hat" today. We have instant access to what is happening all over the world. If a plane crashes in the jungles of Africa, we know it NOW! If a movie star gets arrested for drug use, we know it NOW. Instant information and entertainment with the push of a button has become commonplace thanks to that amazing medium, television!
Movie Actresses
Female movie stars! Now there's a topic that can get a good heated discussion going in almost any crowd. We love 'em! We hate 'em! We really believe that movie actresses' career choice gives all of us the right to know every detail of their private lives, from what brand of shoes they wear to who they are sleeping with — or WANT to sleep with. We feel that the entertainment provided by movie actresses doesn't end when the credits roll at the end of a movie they starred in.
That's really always been the case even during the early years of silent films. What's changed is the movie studio's take on negative publicity.
In the early days of film, the girls and women who made movies were expected to live lives that were "above reproach." They were expected to behave like perfect ladies according to the standards of the day. They were NOT to drink, they were NOT to smoke, they were NOT to have premarital OR extramarital affairs, and they most certainly were NOT to have babies unless they had been married (happily, of course) for the requisite nine months — AT LEAST!
The standards expected of movie actresses changed with the times. But, movie actresses were NOT expected to push the envelope of acceptable moral standards of the day — whatever those standards happened to be. Censors still had full-time jobs at movie studios, and censorship of behavior was just as stringent especially for movie actresses. The fairy tale of perfect beauty and perfect moral behavior continued off screen as well as on screen.
Movie actresses played weak and clinging women who didn't have a brain in their collective heads in the early days of film. But times did change. Movie actresses today portray strong and successful women. The moral code no longer exists, and "pushing the envelope" of propriety is expected. We have to take the good with the bad!
That's really always been the case even during the early years of silent films. What's changed is the movie studio's take on negative publicity.
In the early days of film, the girls and women who made movies were expected to live lives that were "above reproach." They were expected to behave like perfect ladies according to the standards of the day. They were NOT to drink, they were NOT to smoke, they were NOT to have premarital OR extramarital affairs, and they most certainly were NOT to have babies unless they had been married (happily, of course) for the requisite nine months — AT LEAST!
The standards expected of movie actresses changed with the times. But, movie actresses were NOT expected to push the envelope of acceptable moral standards of the day — whatever those standards happened to be. Censors still had full-time jobs at movie studios, and censorship of behavior was just as stringent especially for movie actresses. The fairy tale of perfect beauty and perfect moral behavior continued off screen as well as on screen.
Movie actresses played weak and clinging women who didn't have a brain in their collective heads in the early days of film. But times did change. Movie actresses today portray strong and successful women. The moral code no longer exists, and "pushing the envelope" of propriety is expected. We have to take the good with the bad!
Movie Actors
Americans have always loved our movie actors since the days of the first silent films! We lavish our adoration on them, but we also consider their private lives as "fair game" for our entertainment as well, much to the chagrin of the movie actors themselves.
We know who is getting married, who is getting divorced, who is having a baby, who got arrested for drug or alcohol use, who is engaged in a brutal custody battle and on and on. Nothing is "off limits"! If the movie actors do "it" (whatever "it" happens to be) we feel like that we have a right to know about "it."
In the days of silent films, an actor's reputation was guarded as though it represented the crown jewels. I suppose in a way it was a very valuable asset. Actors were trotted out by movie studios, and their virtues were touted to sell tickets to the movies the actors starred in. Any "negative" publicity" was carefully avoided, and there have been cases in which an actor's true life choices were never revealed until after his death.
Today, of course, the more outrageously an actor behaves off screen, the more appealing he is to the public on screen. "Bad boy" images sell movie tickets. The movie studios discovered that profitable bit of information during the 1950s. The phenomenon gives credence and maybe even new meaning to the old "nice guys finish last" adage.
Actors give voice and image to our imaginations. We can watch an actor portray a character on screen and see ourselves experiencing and reacting to situations in the same "heroic" manner! Movie actors fascinate us on screen as well as off screen.
Movie actors — the good ones — provide us with entertainment!
We know who is getting married, who is getting divorced, who is having a baby, who got arrested for drug or alcohol use, who is engaged in a brutal custody battle and on and on. Nothing is "off limits"! If the movie actors do "it" (whatever "it" happens to be) we feel like that we have a right to know about "it."
In the days of silent films, an actor's reputation was guarded as though it represented the crown jewels. I suppose in a way it was a very valuable asset. Actors were trotted out by movie studios, and their virtues were touted to sell tickets to the movies the actors starred in. Any "negative" publicity" was carefully avoided, and there have been cases in which an actor's true life choices were never revealed until after his death.
Today, of course, the more outrageously an actor behaves off screen, the more appealing he is to the public on screen. "Bad boy" images sell movie tickets. The movie studios discovered that profitable bit of information during the 1950s. The phenomenon gives credence and maybe even new meaning to the old "nice guys finish last" adage.
Actors give voice and image to our imaginations. We can watch an actor portray a character on screen and see ourselves experiencing and reacting to situations in the same "heroic" manner! Movie actors fascinate us on screen as well as off screen.
Movie actors — the good ones — provide us with entertainment!
Concerts as Entertainment
I doubt anybody would argue the point that concerts could be called anything other than part of the "entertainment industry."
The definition of "concert" is: a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. You'll notice that the definition doesn't specify what kind of music or the venue of the performance. That's because there are concerts that feature music from classical to rap, and every genre in between.
Concerts are held in wonderful old theaters and concert halls that were built especially for the performance of music and have positively amazing acoustics. Concerts are also held outdoors in open-air venues where there are no acoustics at all. And we've all attended a junior high school band concert that was held in the school auditorium, gym, or cafeteria, where the acoustics are absolutely atrocious with sound bouncing around everywhere.
Nevertheless, no matter what kind of music or what the venue of the performance, a concert is entertainment. Although I must point out that sometimes audiences are drawn to concerts and are willing to pay dearly for tickets to concerts not just to hear the music being performed. Sometimes the audience is drawn to a concert because of the venue (Woodstock), the performers (famous singers or musicians), or because it is their duty as a parent to attend no matter how bad the music might be.
Famous singers and musicians often go on concert tours. The same concert is performed, but each night the performance occurs in a different city. Particularly in the rock and roll, pop, or rap genres, concert tours are very popular avenues to allow fans the opportunity to see their favorite singers and musicians perform. Ticket sales for concert tour performances usually represent a large percentage of the profits made by record companies, managers, and producers.
The definition of "concert" is: a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. You'll notice that the definition doesn't specify what kind of music or the venue of the performance. That's because there are concerts that feature music from classical to rap, and every genre in between.
Concerts are held in wonderful old theaters and concert halls that were built especially for the performance of music and have positively amazing acoustics. Concerts are also held outdoors in open-air venues where there are no acoustics at all. And we've all attended a junior high school band concert that was held in the school auditorium, gym, or cafeteria, where the acoustics are absolutely atrocious with sound bouncing around everywhere.
Nevertheless, no matter what kind of music or what the venue of the performance, a concert is entertainment. Although I must point out that sometimes audiences are drawn to concerts and are willing to pay dearly for tickets to concerts not just to hear the music being performed. Sometimes the audience is drawn to a concert because of the venue (Woodstock), the performers (famous singers or musicians), or because it is their duty as a parent to attend no matter how bad the music might be.
Famous singers and musicians often go on concert tours. The same concert is performed, but each night the performance occurs in a different city. Particularly in the rock and roll, pop, or rap genres, concert tours are very popular avenues to allow fans the opportunity to see their favorite singers and musicians perform. Ticket sales for concert tour performances usually represent a large percentage of the profits made by record companies, managers, and producers.
Hip Hop and Rap Music Magazines
There are a wide variety of hip hop and rap music magazines available to the public in both printed and online magazine form. Some use the term e zines to refer to online magazines because they are strictly electronic magazines and plenty of rap music magazines are available as e zines. When you are looking for any type of music magazine there are some particular features you will want to look for such as news articles, reviews of albums, and release dates for new CD’s coming out. The best of rap from all over the world is covered in the very best hip hop and rap music magazines in the United States and in the U.K. You can be very educated in the world of rap music and hip hop by reading all of the news articles in the magazines as well as reading the magazines for entertainment purposes.
There are so many different types of rap music magazines out there that you will want to figure out which of them have all of the features you are interested in before you decide which of them to subscribe to. Some people find it very beneficial to only get magazines online as opposed to getting them in print form because you can take them anywhere without having to have tons of books with you and anywhere you have a computer you can read your favorite magazines.
The wide variety of music magazines available for rap and hip fans is ever expanding and each day there is more out there for fans to find. The best way to discover which of the magazines you want to subscribe to is try some out on a trial basis and see which ones hold your interest more or have more of what you are looking for in any hip hop and rap music magazines. The only real way to know if you wan to get a particular magazine is to try it out. You can either buy a copy a couple of months in a row to see how it hold up or try out the online version if one is available.
You can find high quality rap magazines in the United States, the U.K. and even Canada you just need to get out there and seek them out. One of the best things about getting a rap music magazine is the ability to read reviews of albums before you purchase them and to read great interviews with your favorite artists concerning their music and their lives. You have nothing to lose by trying out all the potential hip hop and rap music magazines available to you and see which one fits you best.
There are so many different types of rap music magazines out there that you will want to figure out which of them have all of the features you are interested in before you decide which of them to subscribe to. Some people find it very beneficial to only get magazines online as opposed to getting them in print form because you can take them anywhere without having to have tons of books with you and anywhere you have a computer you can read your favorite magazines.
The wide variety of music magazines available for rap and hip fans is ever expanding and each day there is more out there for fans to find. The best way to discover which of the magazines you want to subscribe to is try some out on a trial basis and see which ones hold your interest more or have more of what you are looking for in any hip hop and rap music magazines. The only real way to know if you wan to get a particular magazine is to try it out. You can either buy a copy a couple of months in a row to see how it hold up or try out the online version if one is available.
You can find high quality rap magazines in the United States, the U.K. and even Canada you just need to get out there and seek them out. One of the best things about getting a rap music magazine is the ability to read reviews of albums before you purchase them and to read great interviews with your favorite artists concerning their music and their lives. You have nothing to lose by trying out all the potential hip hop and rap music magazines available to you and see which one fits you best.
Online Music Magazines Are Here To Stay
Remembering all the times you have read a printed magazine and then had to throw it in the garbage or worse you kept it for the pictures only to have it start a collection of old magazines in your garage, should make you start to consider reading magazines online. If you are a musician or even just a fan of all things music then you will be pleased to know that there are many different online music magazines available today for you to choose from. Once you read an online music magazine you can either save it to a disk or simply be through with it and never worry about it again, unlike that huge stack of old magazines in your garage that have been haunting you day and night.
It will feel really great to not worry about all the clutter that things like printed magazines can cause you. If you are a person that tends to save every little thing you even bring into your home then it is very important to try online music magazines to help reduce your clutter by at least one item. Just cutting back on your paper garbage will make a huge difference. There are so many different online music magazines you will not be missing out on anything by going electronic.
Online music magazines have all of the great things that printed music magazines have, including the news articles, interviews with artists, reviews of albums, and even charts listings for your favorite songs. You will not be missing out on anything by switching to online music magazines except maybe the huge amount of trash and clutter made from having every months issue for the whole year stacked up in your garage. All the things you loved about the magazines you were buying in the store or having sent to your home can still be yours without all the hassle of having so much trash to throw away.
If what you really miss is cutting out the best pictures of all your favorite artists then you can either buy a poster or print out the photo on your printer. Once you get used to the idea of not having a paper copy of your favorite magazines then you will be more than happy with online music magazines, which have all the information and maybe more than the old paper magazines you used to order. Becoming used to technology is sometimes difficult but something that we all should try to get used to if we want to keep up with the times.
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