Entertaiment is a broad category of art, media, and live events that can offer anything from escapism to social engagement, catharsis to cerebral challenge. It includes visual (movies, TV shows, visual arts), auditory (music, podcasts, audiobooks), interactive (video games, augmented reality) and literary (books, comics, poetry). The genre has demonstrated a remarkable flexibility, cross-over, and longevity, in which familiar forms have been reshaped and remixed for new audiences.
Article by Judith Regan and Jeremy Brock, edited by Chris Anderson. Originally published in Issue 69 of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction & Fantasy. Copyright 2007 by Wiley-Blackwell. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.