GTL and Entertainment

By: Marcus Gaines-Cherry

Whether it is the music we listen to on our iPods, the TV shows that we watch, or the new weekly YouTube sensation, entertainment is a part of our daily lives. But how much does entertainment affect us, and are those effects negative or positive? As an example, in past years rap artists have used the entertainer status to promote a community awareness of political issues. Nowadays rap doesn’t seem to portray messages of community and responsibility, but ones of individualism and greed. Now before you flip the page to the next article because you think this is yet another history lesson on music, let me assure you it’s not. Music is just a prime example of how entertainment can affect us without notice.

I am not writing this to discern whether entertainment is negative or positive, because entertainment has its good and bad points. I just want you to realize that all entertainment whether good or bad causes us to change our lives, either in a progressive manner or stunting our growth. For example watching “Cops” which in my opinion is a negative show that depicts violence and stupidity, made me not want to be a criminal on that show; this negative entertainment caused a good outcome.
We as college students allow entertainment to affect the way we interact with each other, the way we dress, and even the amount of money we spend; all as a way to achieve what we see in entertainment. Many times fashion, as is the latest outfit a superstar decides to wear, is acceptable. With entertainment it is all about what sparks our soul and catches our eye. If we were to see Trey Songz or Paula Patton rocking the latest in “Save the Earth” and “Feed the Poor” t-shirts, maybe just maybe the world would be a more ecofriendly and socially conscious society.

Now don’t get me wrong, entertainment as well as entertainers have brought awareness to global issues, and caused many people to want to go out and do something for the world. For instance when we see artist like Wyclef Jean, taking political situations into their own hands, it inspires us as citizens to want to get out and join the fight. It does not matter whether the entertainment in your opinion is good or bad; it is all about what we choose to take away from the entertainment that provides us with encouragement for the negative or positive deeds.

Let us take the hit show Jersey Shore on MTV, we watch this either because we enjoy it or we want to see what foolishness is going to happen in the next show. Just in case you don’t know what the show is about, the basic premise are these Italians go to Jersey Shore to have as much fun as possible by getting Guidos and Guidettes , tanning, and relaxing on the beach. There are many messages that can be taken form this show but I see two messages that are more important that the rest. You can take away that life is a party and is all about having fun, and decide to live your life in this manner. Or you take away that each person has to maintain a job in order to stay in the house and live their life of “luxury”. It’s your choice, but like Jersey Shore, much of entertainment provides many messages that you can use as a guide for your life, but it’s your responsibility to pick the right one.

In closing, choose what entertains you wisely, but choose what you take away wiser, because what you take away from entertainment is what is ultimately going to affect you whether it be positively or negatively.