Entertainment & Society: Audiences, Trends, and Impact

by Shay Sayre, Cynthia M. King

Entertainment & Audiences, Trends, & Impact is the first comprehensive, theory and research-based text for upper-division courses in entertainment studies. The book provides an overview of leisure and travel in our society in a way that no other textbook accomplishes. The first of its kind, it is an intelligent tourist′s guide to entertainment in modern life. The reader is treated to discussions about audiences of live and mediated performance, sports, and tourism. The use of theming is presented for its contribution to our postmodern society. The authors focus on examples that illustrate how everything in life--from driving our cars to shopping for food--is crafted to provide an entertaining experience. They demonstrate how dramatic tension has been introduced into all of our experiences for both learning and enjoyment. The book confirms that modern Americans define ourselves not by what we own but what we do. Also appropriate for general education programs, this text is directed at undergraduate courses involving media, culture, psychology, sociology, American Studies and entertainment.

440 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003