Life The Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality By Neal Gabler
574 Words3 Pages
Entertainment
In his 1998 book, Life the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality, Neal Gabler talks about the effects of entertainment on the American Society and expresses his opinion that it does indeed ruin society. It is not difficult to understand Gabler’s negative perspective of the subject. Some people may be quick to argue entertainment is nothing but a source of enjoyment and economic stimulant. However, if we look closer, entertainment has the authority to poison unsuspecting generations.
Entertainment has been an evident force in America since the 19th century, gaining speed in the form of journalism; which has transitioned into a herd of sources engrossing the public. Movie and television programs have overwhelmed modern society bringing to life the stories, books and newspapers introduced. Entertainment has become more personal, absorbing the public’s attention by broadcasting live news, creating yet another reality TV show, and allowing people to participate in their own inventions of creating news through social media. Facebook literally features its own “newsfeed” for users to make their opinions public. Social media offers the convenience of connecting an entire planet through the click of a few buttons, but the screens…show more content… Much of how entertainment can be impacted is purely based on the success of how well it can be advertised. People have a notion for wanting what they cannot have or afford. The more exclusive a product is portrayed, the more desperate the public desires it. Little do consumer’s realize they are the ones fueling the consumption of unworthy products by self advertising. Our generation spends more than we make, and success has been expressed into something only enough money can buy. This is where the validity of Gabler’s warning against entertainment is very