Arts and Entertainment Industry

Exploring the framework for a “Balanced Development” model

 

Ramses Rashidi

©2008 Center for Balanced Development  (www.cbdus.org)

 

In the last article we talked about fragmented development and impact of the transportation industry, especially the automobile, on society, the environment and the economy. Here, we are going to further examine the fragmented nature of growth and development in the modern times. Specifically, we are going to focus on arts and entertainment industry.

 

The Traditional Role of the Arts

Early history of the arts, dating back some 40,000 years ago, shows images on rocks as well as figures and objects that were representative of life in the primitive society. The early forms of written script developed in the ancient cradles of civilizations such as China and Egypt were pictographs or small drawings placed in sequences to describe events and social conditions. Whether we are talking about the performing, visual or literary arts, the concept of creating something to be shared with others has been part of human existence from ancient times.

Arts traditionally have shown the human imagination and skills in conveying thoughts. Music, imagery and literature of ancient cultures were about esthetic beauty, morality and human nobility. Throughout history, arts have been used to depict spirituality, to create feelings of transcendence and to foster religious beliefs. At the same time, we also see the lavish entertainment in the ancient royal courts, as well as street jugglers, musicians, magicians, artists and actors who performed for the common folk. Altogether, art in the old world played an important role in the society and was an integral part of the development process. Chinese philosopher, Confucius, during his trips would ask to hear the local music to understand the condition of society in that area.

 

The Renaissance and Modern Arts

Prior to the Renaissance, the modern concept of "art" did not exist.  Art was used to refer to workmanship by generally anonymous craftsmen. The Renaissance (14th-17th Century) was a period of thought reform. Multifaceted artists and visionaries offered a fresh perspective on life and intellectual pursuit. Micaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were truly the examples of the “renaissance man”. They were great artists as well as inventors and scientists. The idea of becoming an all-around individual and learning branches of arts, science, and philosophy was the catalyst for the revival of ideas and bridging the gap between the secular and religious thought. In a sense, the arts and sciences merged to bring new awareness of ancient traditions.

 

The renaissance was about expressing esthetic beauty and bringing together the heart and the mind. It served to inspire the observer. The humanistic method of learning emerged that focused on the genius of man and the unique and extraordinary ability of the human mind. The knowledge of the Greek and Persian scientists and philosophers were assimilated and vibrant cultures and social structures emerged. The renaissance played a major role in the development of culture and society across Europe. There were new thoughts, arts, architecture, literature, sciences, inventions, and social perspective.

 

Following the renaissance, the artists of the 18th and 19th century were primarily concerned with ideas of truth and beauty. Arts, whether secular or religious, served as a social expression and as a means of education. Nature and human life were shown in the most exquisite detailed renderings. Great movements were initiated in different art forms and many “classics” were created that have survived the test of time until today. However, with the development and evolution of the industrial era, the arts gradually began to reflect the feelings of living in the machine age. Artistic expressions showing anger, frustration and conflict surfaced in artwork in response to the chaotic nature of development. Individualism and the importance of self emerged in the literary arts, paintings, music and plays.

 

Entertainment Mediums & Content

With the development of technology in sound recordings, motion pictures or film, radio and television, the whole nature of arts and entertainment have gradually changed.  A huge industry focused on providing entertainment for the masses using modern technology has been established and it still keeps expanding. To escape the stress of long work hours, sophisticated social relations, and the difficulties of life in the modern era, people have found a refuge in movie theaters, concert halls, and clubs. The development of radio and television have further assisted the process of coping with the hectic lifestyle and taking the mind off of the daily worries, concerns and pressures of life.

 

Entertainment has emerged as the medium for the expression of wild fantasies, the unreal and the lower nature of man. Violence, wars, heartbreak love stories and sex have become the themes and formulas for success in film production. Television programs which started with family-oriented and educational content have gravitated to controversial topics and violence to get higher ratings and to attract viewers. Music and songs that had been about love and human relations have gradually become the medium for protest and magnifying the social breakdown. Fiction and novels have jumped on the bandwagon with stories about horror, conditional love and murder.

 

The invention of the computer and the advent of the Internet have opened up many new possibilities for the development of the arts and entertainment. We have seen the tremendous growth of computer programs, videos, music, information and networking on the Internet. At the same time, we are witnessing the efforts of those who are willing to produce any content to get rich. The computer video games industry, which has been growing at an incredible speed with $47 billion projected for 2009, has been primarily based on violent content and themes of fighting strategy, war games and glorifying shady characters. Millions of children and young people across the planet spend endless hours playing these games. The Internet itself is now like a minefield that could be fatal to the growth and development of the younger generation.

 

Popular Entertainment or Poisoning of the Mind

Arts and Entertainment are part of our life, no matter where we live on the planet. Whether it’s the radio, TV, in print form, or digital, we are constantly bombarded with information. Today, with the advent of the satellite, you could be in the far corners of Mongolia or the jungles of Amazon, and still have access to cell-phones, radio, TV, and the Internet. While we hope that our children get a good education in schools, the entertainment industry, by far, has a more profound effect on the minds of our youngsters. It’s likely that children learn more from what they see and hear in the mass media rather than all the efforts that are made at school. The huge success of YouTube.com, facebook.com, myspace.com and the variety of websites that are available to entertain and educate the new generation testify to the power of the Internet. In terms of the influence of the television, the average child in the US spends 3 to 4 hours watching TV every single day. The iPod and cell-phone with the capability to play music and video have become the common fixtures and a “must have” gadget for young people worldwide. The film industry, with global annual sales of $40 billion, keeps expanding while sports as a form of entertainment is a growing field that is popular in today’s win-lose style of living. Here the question is: With the tremendous amount of entertainment that we are exposed to, are we educating our children and ourselves, or are we poisoning our minds and thereby contributing to the further degradation of the human race and social relations.

 

Balanced Development Perspective

Arts and entertainment play an important role in the development of social and personal values. The promotion of positive thoughts, benevolence, dedication, and harmony through creative and interesting lyrics, scenarios and stories can have a profound effect on the mindset and function of individuals, families and the community. Reinforcement from the mass media in fostering collaboration within the work environment, and inter-industry dialogue could together lead to better productivity and efficiency. Arts and Entertainment can also play a very effective role in the education of children and the public at large. They can increase our awareness of the importance of building good relations, deepening our knowledge of self, and preserving our limited natural resources. Arts and entertainment are extremely effective in communicating human aspirations in embodying virtues, reaching potentials, living in a clean environment, achieving peace, and establishing a united global society.

 

In the next article we will examine the growth and development of the telecommunication industry.

 

Ramses Rashidi (ramses@cbdus.org) is the founder and director of Center for Balanced Development.

The center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and services to foster global balance in social, personal, ecological and economic development.