Pray, what is entertainment all about? Where is it coming from and where is it heading? It is everywhere nowadays, but little if any thought is spared it. If one searches the World Wide Web for dictionary definitions of the term, one quickly discovers that they veer toward amusement, enjoyment, recreation, and relaxation. And so does the bulk of its synonyms. One of them goes as far dissipation, too. For my sins, I am most attracted to synonyms of a slightly different bent, such as diversion and distraction. Now we are talking. In my mind, entertainment is about obliterating thought for as long as practicable at this day and age. Whence all manner of earsplitting pop music concerts, car and motorcycle racing, sitcom series on television, and performance art, among other distractions. As our civilization stumbles forward without any rhyme or reason, entertainment is blossoming precisely because it offers a respite from it all. Fuck thought, to put it bluntly. Given all the givens, this is not such a bad idea, either. Which is why one can expect ever more entertainment in years to come, for thought can lead only to depression as of late. Actually, desperation. As well as an eventual slump in consumption. God forbid! This would be the pits for greedy capitalism and fake democracy, to be sure. One way or another, the future of entertainment, at least in the short to medium run, is no less than bright. The ignorant masses have no better option, anyway. Fuck thought for as long as you can!

Addendum (June 7, 2024)

Not surprisingly, I was delighted by today’s article in the Financial Times dedicated to the lunch with Bryan Lourd, a purported Hollywood super-agent. “The entertainment business has thrived on disruption,” he declared. His hand-drawn portrait that accompanies the article comes with a big smile, too. “Hey,” I giggled as soon as I read this line, “he must have read my Residua on this merry subject!” Shortly afterwards, I came across this piece of mine from five years ago. Indeed, as the world lurches toward World War III, the entertainment business will keep flourishing. And how. Greedy capitalism and fake democracy have no other option on offer, anyway. The likes of Bryan Lourd will profit all the way to the apocalypse, no doubt whatsoever. For all its foibles, the human species has a trick up its sleeve for any disruption along the way. Hip hip hooray!