Entertainment
The Latin root of the word entertainment combines inter, meaning among, and tenir, meaning to hold. This ancient construction translates to holding mutually or holding intertwined. The Oxford English Dictionary cites a 1490 usage by William Caxton as an early example of this term in print. Earlier definitions included merrymaking, pleasure, and delight alongside hospitality for guests. By the 16th century in Europe, reading had become a source of pure pleasure rather than a painful deciphering process. Storytelling remains one of the oldest forms of entertainment, evolving from mouth-to-ear transmission into written texts. These earliest sequences were originally spoken and derived their force from elements still enjoyed in modern films and novels.
Imperial and royal courts provided training grounds for professional entertainers across different cultures. In the Maya city states, spectacles took place in large plazas before palaces where crowds gathered at designated viewing distances. The durbar was introduced to India by the Mughals and later passed onto the British Empire. In Korea, court entertainment dance originated in palace banquets before becoming commoner entertainment. At the Palace of Versailles, thousands of courtiers acted as both performers and spectators in daily rituals that reinforced status hierarchy. Queen Elizabeth I held Accession Day celebrations in 1595 featuring tournaments and jousting before assembled courts and thousands of Londoners. Entry for these events at the Tiltyard in Whitehall cost 12d per person. Such events dramatized differences between ordinary families and those of rulers while reinforcing political authority.
During earlier centuries in Europe, watching criminal punishment served as an accepted form of public entertainment. Capital punishments like hanging and beheading offered warnings but also functioned as diversion for the unemployed and unemployable. A hanging was described as a carnival that diverted crowds who could afford carriages or rented rooms to watch. Public punishment lasted until the 19th century when writers and philosophers began expressing loathing for such awesome events. Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray wrote about executions at Newgate Prison in 1840 to teach wider publics that these were obscene entertainments. Gladiatorial games popular during Roman times combined sport, punishment, and entertainment into blood spectacles. Hunting wild animals introduced from Carthage became a popular spectacle supporting international trade in beasts. The Colosseum dedicated in AD 80 held fifty thousand spectators who enjoyed blood sport with stage show trappings.
Psychologists state the function of media entertainment is the attainment of gratification without other expected results. This contrasts sharply with education designed to develop understanding or marketing aimed at encouraging purchases. Some people are entertained by others pain or unhappiness through schadenfreude. Entertainment may go beyond simple gratification to produce insight within its audience. Universal philosophical questions drive many narratives including what it means to be human or how one knows what they know. Shakespeare Hamlet articulates these concerns in poetry while films like The Matrix explore knowledge nature worldwide. The Hitchhiker Guide to Galaxy originally appeared as radio comedy before becoming novels, films, television series, and video games. Its themes encompass life meaning alongside ethics of entertainment, artificial intelligence, multiple worlds, God, and philosophical method. Questions such as these drive narratives whether presented as stories, plays, poems, books, dance, comics, or games.
The Lumière brothers were the first to send cameramen throughout the world instructing them to film everything public interest. By World War I films met enormous needs for mass entertainment combining fictions and newsfilms randomly. The French transformed scientific principles into commercially lucrative spectacles while Americans contrived motion illusions through successive images. In 1908 Pathé launched and distributed newsreels reaching global audiences. Computer-generated imagery in the 21st century made spectacle possible on scales never dreamed of by Cecil B DeMille. Creators of The Lego Movie wanted audiences believing they saw actual bricks shot with real cameras rather than digital environments inside computers. From the 1930s to 1950s movies and radio served as only mass entertainment sources. Technological changes economic decisions risk aversion and globalization reduced both quality and range of films produced by the second decade of the 21st century. Sophisticated visual effects animate non-living items like Lego normally used as physical games.
Romans watched lions and bears dance to pipe music while horses trained to kneel bow dance and prance before crowds. Violent confrontations with wild beasts became more brutal over time in ancient arenas. Fleas performed in flea circuses while dolphins entertained in dolphinaria and monkeys did tricks for street organ players. Horse racing is regarded as both sport and important source of entertainment globally. Melbourne Cup Day in Australia is a public holiday where the race serves as an important annual event. Bear-baiting dog fighting and cockfighting have become illegal due to cruelty involved despite past popularity. Pigeon shooting remains controversial between opponents viewing it as cruel marksmanship exercise and proponents seeing entertainment value. Fox hunting involves horses and hounds while bullfighting has strong theatrical components. Organizations like People for Ethical Treatment of Animals advocate rights against animal abuse in entertainment contexts.
Entertainment functions as big business especially within United States but exists ubiquitously across all cultures. Kings rulers and powerful people historically paid for private or public entertainment while others made their own. Technological developments in 20th century mass media allowed production independent of audiences packaged commercially by industries. The film industry includes Hollywood Bollywood UK cinema and European cinemas including France Germany Spain Italy. Fairs and exhibitions existed since medieval times displaying wealth innovations objects trade offering specific entertainments. From London 1851 to Paris 1900 over 200 million visitors entered turnstiles at shows worldwide. Since World War II well over 500 million visits recorded through expo turnstiles globally. Merchandising became entertainment with spinning signs flashing lights thumping music video screens interactive kiosks day care cafés. The industry relies on business models producing marketing broadcasting distributing traditional forms including performances of all types.
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Common questions
What is the Latin root of the word entertainment?
The Latin root of the word entertainment combines inter meaning among and tenir meaning to hold. This ancient construction translates to holding mutually or holding intertwined.
When did William Caxton first use the term entertainment in print according to the Oxford English Dictionary?
The Oxford English Dictionary cites a 1490 usage by William Caxton as an early example of this term in print. Earlier definitions included merrymaking pleasure and delight alongside hospitality for guests.
How much did entry cost for Queen Elizabeth I Accession Day celebrations at the Tiltyard in Whitehall in 1595?
Entry for these events at the Tiltyard in Whitehall cost 12d per person. Such events dramatized differences between ordinary families and those of rulers while reinforcing political authority.
In what year was the Colosseum dedicated and how many spectators could it hold?
The Colosseum dedicated in AD 80 held fifty thousand spectators who enjoyed blood sport with stage show trappings. Gladiatorial games popular during Roman times combined sport punishment and entertainment into blood spectacles.
Which film industry sectors are mentioned as existing globally including Hollywood Bollywood UK cinema and European cinemas?
The film industry includes Hollywood Bollywood UK cinema and European cinemas including France Germany Spain Italy. Fairs and exhibitions existed since medieval times displaying wealth innovations objects trade offering specific entertainments.