Are you not entertained?!

“Are you not entertained?” asks Maximus Decimus Meridius, in a somber scene in the movie Gladiator. After defeating his opponents to death, he turns to the spectators in the Colosseum filling the venue to satiate their hunger for amusement. In real life, the Romans were known to find sport in beholding brutal battles of gladiators (professional fighters typically slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals) against each other or wild animals, many at times to death. Bloodbaths, disfigured body parts, lifeless bags of flesh of man and carcasses spread the floor once a battle was finished. All of this was just a typical occurrence of Roman society, peaking from the 1^st to the 4^th Century CE. How about that for normal life? In this modern world, I’m quite certain that’s unforgivable a pastime to have. But, are we any different from them?

I’m just not a fan of ChatGPT, I’m biased towards Gemini, but I use Grok more than any other generative AI. So I asked it for the origin of the word entertainment. This is what it stated: “…from the Old French term entretenir, meaning “to hold together, maintain, or support.” Which itself derives from the Latin inter (“between”) and tenere (“to hold”). By the late 15^th century, entretenir evolved in Middle English to entertain, initially meaning to engage or keep someone’s attention, often through hospitality or conversation. Over time, by the 16^th century, it took on the modern sense of amusement or diversion, as in providing enjoyment through perfomances or activities…”

Wow!

One of the few things I can personally attest to in this life is the adage “nothing is ever as it seems”. And when it comes to correctly ascertaining the reality of whatever something is, many predicaments arise. In fact, “What really is reality?” is an ancient investigation that predates countless civilizations. Plenty philosophers and thinkers have wrestled with it and continue to do so. It’s not as easy as it seems (the irony!). Yet in my sincere observations on the matter of entertainment: It’s plain to see that entertainment isn’t just entertainment for the sake of entertainment. There’s something bigger at play, or rather, something bigger at stake. Have you any idea what it could be? (For I could be dead wrong with my assertion)

One thing is undeniable though: Everything in life dies at some point. Either literally or not; some inescapable cessation of operation of its intended purpose of existing in the first place. In that light — specifically for us people — the duration of our existence (on this planet) is all contained betwixt being a zygote to the point of becoming a carcass. Thus, whatever and however you get to occupy yourself with, in-between that period, is all but a waiting for death. Seeing it in another way, as we live this life, we have to fill our time with things, actions, and thoughts that make that final waiting-to-exhale moment worthwhile. Your livelihood (and by extension, your life and living) is located in-between conception and death. And all the things you do and concern yourself with on that journey is what’s termed (by me, of course) entertainment. All of it is entertainment.

I know, it sounds like indeed all is vanity; for it is! All our commitments, engagements, responsibilities, pursuits, dreams and ‘purposes’ are nothing but entertainment merely holding our attention, somewhat to keep us sane, as we await annihilation and obliteration. I’m not trying to convince you into agreement with me — I’m just seeking to implore you to really think it through.

The real thing to caution ourselves of isn’t that we be not gullible-by-design to entertainment (the surety of death already disabled us of such a resistance) but that we make proper assessment of edifying entertainment. Anything we give our attention to moves us towards a certain destination (someone else said this, not me). Edifying entertainment is anything that refuels our in-limbo existence. It’s about being morally-correct on our entertainment content. But of course, whenever you introduce morality, achieving a plumb line becomes hopeless. So, right morality aside, just be aware that whatever entertainment you give yourself to ought to refuel your already-wearied-soul-from-awaiting-death soul. Mark that distinctly.

Personally, I find myself constantly thinking, triggered, and reminded of Maximus’s question “Are you not entertained?” Almost always, it guilt-trips me to be stingy of my time to any form of entertainment. I hardly consume what can be termed “mainstream entertainment”, I generally resent anything of someone’s creation and curation to entice me giving away my time. I’m jealous of it. I need to find balance though, simply because entertainment is a necessity in this our waiting world. It’s just that at the end of it all, time is all we got. Really. How are you spending yours?

However you’re spending it, remember not to judge the Romans for finding amusement and satisfaction in giving their attention to people dying for their spectacle; we all do the same thing, just with different things.

Don’t cancel anyone based upon what they choose (although it’s debatable if we even have the power to choose) to have hold their attention as they await their death. Nevertheless, it’s fair to highlight that some choose wrong and unfruitful entertainment. Be not like em’; find entertainment in and of the right things. You instinctively know what they’re.

Just don’t waste your time.