Popular Entertainment is Rarel Excellent Entertainment

Popular entertainment is rarely excellent entertainment. Describe a specific situation in which entertainment might be both "popular" and "excellent." Discuss what you think determines when entertainment can be both "popular" and "excellent." In the 21st century, popular entertainment has been disparaged as empty and lacking in substance. Popular entertainment runs the gamut from pop music and blockbuster movies to pornographic books and celebrity-focused magazines. They are considered "popular" due to high consumption by a large number of citizens. In order to generate high revenue, forms of popular entertainment must cater to the lowest denominator of soceity--that is, by churning out products that do not require people to think but rather satisfy the senses in a superficial manner. Indeed, popular entertainment usually cannot be labeled as "excellent" since it lacks originality. Pop music, for instance, does not stray from the norm or what has been proven popular in the past; this can be seen in the beats and themes that get recycled from one hit to another. "Artists" churning out pop music have the goal to maximize revenues and therefore, use material or a vision that has already proven to work in the past. The same lack of originality can be observed in other forms of popular entertainment, including blockbuster movies where directors cater to the prurient curiosity of viewers for sales purposes and not for the sake of art per se. Popular entertainment, furthermore, capitalizes on the fact that most people do not want to be challenged intellectually when doing something they consider "fun". The regular citizen does not, for example, want to pay $10 for her movie ticket if she has to remain alert in order to follow the plot of a story. She certainly is not interested in analyzing the deeper message of the movie, if any. Those producing popular entertainment, as talented as they might be, know what regular folks want and do not want---therefore, sticking to material that does not stimulate the mind on a higher level. Generalizing all forms of popular entertainment as not "excellent" may not be fair to some degree. After all, what is considered "excellent" is subjective. Perhaps something is "excellent" if it allows stressed-out people to have an outlet to relax and let go of the trivial matters of life. Maybe it is "excellent" if it generates energy in people and inspires them to do good work in the world. Some forms of popular entertainment, furthermore, attracts "regular" people but at the same time, can be appreciated by a more intellectual audience looking for a deeper meeting. It might include aspects that specifically target popular interests but still be well thought out and meaningful as a whole. Popular entertainment will always exist partly because humans, in nature, want to feel like they belong and be involved in what is "in." On the other hand, art that challenges perceptions and engages higher thinking skills usually will not have a large market. This is due to the fact that most people do not want to have to think when they are being entertained. Although most popular entertainment may not be considered as quality products, some may be considered as true works of art that can be universally appreciated by all people.