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100-798: The template for American Choreography Awards was created in 1994 (as the L.A. Dance Awards) by the Choreographers Resourcenter, a group of individuals led by Grover Dale, who were determined to expose and get recognition for the art of choreography for the camera. Due to a generous grant from the Bob Fosse Foundation, they were titled the Fosse Awards for two years(1996-'97)and in 1998 became the American Choreography Awards. The decade of accumulative awards were eventually recognized as one of

200-480: A Maharaja or Nawab were installed ... the exchange of official presents ... the order of precedence", for example, were "all inherited from ... the Emperors of Delhi". In Korea, the "court entertainment dance" was "originally performed in the palace for entertainment at court banquets." Court entertainment often moved from being associated with the court to more general use among commoners . This

300-405: A chess championship . On the other hand, players in a game may constitute their own audience as they take their turn to play. Often, part of the entertainment for children playing a game is deciding who is part of their audience and who is a player. Equipment varies with the game. Board games , such as Go , Monopoly or backgammon need a board and markers. One of the oldest known board games

400-579: A music hall , a cinema, a multiplex , or as technological possibilities advanced, via a personal electronic device such as a tablet computer . Entertainment is provided for mass audiences in purpose-built structures such as a theatre , auditorium , or stadium. One of the most famous venues in the Western world, the Colosseum , "dedicated AD  80 with a hundred days of games, held fifty thousand spectators," and in it audiences "enjoyed blood sport with

500-563: A "sharer of the bread" at table, and a court is an extension of the great individual's household. Wherever members of the household and bureaucrats of the administration overlap in personnel, it is reasonable to speak of a "court", for example in Achaemenid Persia , Ming China , Norman Sicily , the papacy before 1870 (see: papal household ), and the Austro-Hungarian Empire . A group of individuals dependent on

600-486: A controller to create results on a screen. They can also be played online with participants joining in remotely. In the second half of the 20th century and in the 21st century the number of such games increased enormously, providing a wide variety of entertainment to players around the world. Video games are popular across the world. French poet Louise Labé (1520/1522–1566) wrote "a profound and timeless insight into reading's innate power". The past gives us pleasure and

700-475: A day and night in this vain exercise, hidden from my father. My rapture in this was so great, that unless I had a new book to read, it seemed to me that I could not be happy. quoted in Fischer (2003) Reading has been a source of entertainment for a very long time, especially when other forms, such as performance entertainments, were (or are) either unavailable or too costly. Even when the primary purpose of

800-410: A fixed place. One of the criteria of Norbert Elias' concept of a court society is that it existed in space. The German word Hof , meaning an enclosed courtyard , can also apply to a rural farmstead with outbuildings and walls forming the perimeter. It has also been used for the palatial seat where the court was held. Thus Hof or "court" can become transferred to the building itself. For example,

900-417: A game of marbles ), needed for sports and music. In the modern day, it often involves sedentary engagement with television or tablet computer . Entertainment is also provided to children or taught to them by adults. A children's entertainer or performer is a professional whose job it is to entertain children. The term can be used to describe a children's musician or television presenter , but encompasses

1000-428: A good song or, or giving a good recitation ... helps to arrest the company's attention ... Such at least was the case with me – the publican devised a plan to bring my entertainment to an end abruptly, and the plan was, he told the waiter to throw a wet towel at me, which, of course, the waiter did ... and I received the wet towel, full force, in the face, which staggered me ... and had

1100-437: A greater public spectacle. "A hanging was a carnival that diverted not merely the unemployed but the unemployable. Good bourgeois or curious aristocrats who could afford it watched it from a carriage or rented a room." Public punishment as entertainment lasted until the 19th century by which time "the awesome event of a public hanging aroused the[ir] loathing of writers and philosophers". Both Dickens and Thackeray wrote about

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1200-520: A hanging in Newgate Prison in 1840, and "taught an even wider public that executions are obscene entertainments". Children's entertainment is centred on play and is significant for their growth. It often mimics adult activities, such as watching performances (on television); prepares them for adult responsibilities, such as child rearing or social interaction (through dolls, pets and group games); or develops skills such as motor skills (such as

1300-430: A high level of musical and dramatic skill, collaboration and like the masque, production expertise as well. Audiences generally show their appreciation of an entertaining performance with applause. However, all performers run the risk of failing to hold their audience's attention and thus, failing to entertain. Audience dissatisfaction is often brutally honest and direct. Of course you all ought to know that while singing

1400-442: A major form of entertainment, especially before the invention of audio and video recording. Performance takes a wide range of forms, including theatre, music and drama. In the 16th and 17th centuries, European royal courts presented masques that were complex theatrical entertainments involving dancing, singing and acting. Opera is a similarly demanding performance style that remains popular. It also encompass all three forms, demanding

1500-586: A novel, film, television series, stage show, comic, audiobook , LP record , adventure game and online game , its ideas became popular references (see Phrases from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ) and has been translated into many languages. Its themes encompass the meaning of life , as well as "the ethics of entertainment, artificial intelligence , multiple worlds, God, and philosophical method ". The "ancient craft of communicating events and experiences, using words, images, sounds and gestures" by telling

1600-408: A now enormous array of pre-recorded products, to a banquet adapted for two, to any size or type of party with appropriate music and dance, to performances intended for thousands, and even for a global audience. The experience of being entertained has come to be strongly associated with amusement , so that one common understanding of the idea is fun and laughter, although many entertainments have

1700-402: A number of consecutive days. Some entertainment, such as public executions, is now illegal in most countries. Activities such as fencing or archery , once used in hunting or war , have become spectator sports . In the same way, other activities, such as cooking , have developed into performances among professionals, staged as global competitions, and then broadcast for entertainment. What

1800-777: A passive role, as in the case of people watching a play , opera , television show , or film ; or the audience role may be active, as in the case of games , where the participant and audience roles may be routinely reversed. Entertainment can be public or private, involving formal, scripted performances, as in the case of theatre or concerts , or unscripted and spontaneous, as in the case of children's games . Most forms of entertainment have persisted over many centuries, evolving due to changes in culture, technology, and fashion, as with stage magic . Films and video games , although they use newer media, continue to tell stories , present drama, and play music . Festivals devoted to music , film , or dance allow audiences to be entertained over

1900-469: A place to assemble all of his research findings. The Academy was eventually home to 2000 magazines, 3,000 videotapes and DVDs, 3000 books, 1500 playbills , and an assortment of photographs, from films, stage musicals , and dance companies . These artifacts covered all styles of dance and genres of movement, martial arts , combat and fighting, ice dance , fencing and swordplay , gymnastics , acrobatic and circus technique, silent film comedy, created for

2000-424: A serious purpose. This may be the case in various forms of ceremony , celebration, religious festival , or satire , for example. Hence, there is the possibility that what appears to be entertainment may also be a means of achieving insight or intellectual growth. An important aspect of entertainment is the audience, which turns a private recreation or leisure activity into entertainment. The audience may have

2100-785: A speaking from mouth to ear and their force as entertainment derived from the very same elements we today enjoy in films and novels." Storytelling is an activity that has evolved and developed "toward variety". Many entertainments, including storytelling but especially music and drama, remain familiar but have developed into a wide variety of form to suit a very wide range of personal preferences and cultural expression. Many types are blended or supported by other forms. For example, drama, stories and banqueting (or dining) are commonly enhanced by music; sport and games are incorporated into other activities to increase appeal. Some may have evolved from serious or necessary activities (such as running and jumping ) into competition and then become entertainment. It

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2200-496: A story is not only the means by which people passed on their cultural values and traditions and history from one generation to another, it has been an important part of most forms of entertainment ever since the earliest times. Stories are still told in the early forms, for example, around a fire while camping , or when listening to the stories of another culture as a tourist. "The earliest storytelling sequences we possess, now of course, committed to writing, were undoubtedly originally

2300-402: A strict order of precedence , often involving imperial, royal and noble ranks , orders of chivalry , and nobility . Some courts even featured court uniforms . One of the major markers of a court is ceremony . Most monarchal courts included ceremonies concerning the investiture or coronation of the monarch and audiences with the monarch. Some courts had ceremonies around the waking and

2400-471: A strict, predictable rhyme and rhythm to create humour and to amuse an audience of listeners or readers. Interactive books such as " choose your own adventure " can make literary entertainment more participatory. Comics and editorial cartoons are literary genres that use drawings or graphics, usually in combination with text, to convey an entertaining narrative. Many contemporary comics have elements of fantasy and are produced by companies that are part of

2500-435: A wide range of specializations, including magicians , costumed performers , puppeteers and party princesses . Many activities that appeal to children such as puppets , clowns , pantomimes and cartoons are also enjoyed by adults. Children have always played games. It is accepted that as well as being entertaining, playing games helps children's development. One of the most famous visual accounts of children's games

2600-615: Is Senet , a game played in Ancient Egypt, enjoyed by the pharaoh Tutankhamun . Card games , such as whist , poker and Bridge have long been played as evening entertainment among friends. For these games, all that is needed is a deck of playing cards . Other games, such as bingo , played with numerous strangers, have been organised to involve the participation of non-players via gambling. Many are geared for children , and can be played outdoors, including hopscotch , hide and seek , or Blind man's bluff . The list of ball games

2700-454: Is a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder called Children's Games , painted in 1560. It depicts children playing a range of games that presumably were typical of the time. Many of these games, such as marbles , hide-and-seek , blowing soap bubbles and piggyback riding continue to be played. Most forms of entertainment can be or are modified to suit children's needs and interests. During

2800-400: Is an accepted version of this page Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousands of years specifically for the purpose of keeping an audience's attention. Although people's attention

2900-423: Is entertainment for one group or individual may be regarded as work or an act of cruelty by another. The familiar forms of entertainment have the capacity to cross over into different media and have demonstrated a seemingly unlimited potential for creative remix . This has ensured the continuity and longevity of many themes, images, and structures. The Oxford English Dictionary gives Latin and French origins for

3000-608: Is held by different things because individuals have different preferences, most forms of entertainment are recognisable and familiar. Storytelling , music , drama , dance , and different kinds of performance exist in all cultures, were supported in royal courts , and developed into sophisticated forms over time, becoming available to all citizens. The process has been accelerated in modern times by an entertainment industry that records and sells entertainment products. Entertainment evolves and can be adapted to suit any scale, ranging from an individual who chooses private entertainment from

3100-417: Is of more service than the present; but the delight of what we once felt is dimly lost never to return and its memory is as distressing as the events themselves were then delectable ... But when we happen to put our thoughts in writing, how easily, later on, does our mind race through an infinity of events, incessantly alive, so that a long time afterwards when we take up those written pages we can return to

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3200-457: Is quite extensive. It includes, for example, croquet , lawn bowling and paintball as well as many sports using various forms of balls . The options cater to a wide range of skill and fitness levels. Physical games can develop agility and competence in motor skills . Number games such as Sudoku and puzzle games like the Rubik's cube can develop mental prowess. Video games are played using

3300-444: Is reduced once more to that of noble households, concentrating on personal service to the household head, ceremonial and perhaps some residual politico-advisory functions. If republican zeal has banished an area's erstwhile ruling nobility , courts may survive in exile . Traces of royal court practices remain in present-day institutions like privy councils and governmental cabinets. A series of Pharaohs ruled Ancient Egypt over

3400-478: Is regarded as entertainment can occur in response to cultural or historical shifts. Hunting wild animals, for example, was introduced into the Roman Empire from Carthage and became a popular public entertainment and spectacle, supporting an international trade in wild animals. Entertainment also evolved into different forms and expressions as a result of social upheavals such as wars and revolutions. During

3500-539: Is said, for example, that pole vaulting "may have originated in the Netherlands, where people used long poles to vault over wide canals rather than wear out their clogs walking miles to the nearest bridge. Others maintain that pole vaulting was used in warfare to vault over fortress walls during battle." The equipment for such sports has become increasingly sophisticated. Vaulting poles, for example, were originally made from woods such as ash , hickory or hazel ; in

3600-472: Is the case as much as for traditional courts as it is for contemporary ceremonials, such as the Hong Kong handover ceremony in 1997, at which an array of entertainments (including a banquet, a parade, fireworks, a festival performance and an art spectacle) were put to the service of highlighting a change in political power. Court entertainments were typically performed for royalty and courtiers as well as "for

3700-517: Is the right thing to do?"; or "How do I know what I know?". "The meaning of life ", for example, is the subject in a wide range of entertainment forms, including film, music and literature. Questions such as these drive many narratives and dramas, whether they are presented in the form of a story, film, play, poem, book, dance, comic, or game. Dramatic examples include Shakespeare 's influential play Hamlet , whose hero articulates these concerns in poetry; and films, such as The Matrix , which explores

3800-465: Is used to enhance storytelling, it is indispensable in dance and opera, and is usually incorporated into dramatic film or theatre productions. Music is also a universal and popular type of entertainment on its own, constituting an entire performance such as when concerts are given. Depending on the rhythm , instrument , performance and style, music is divided into many genres, such as classical, jazz , folk , rock, pop music or traditional. Since

3900-662: The Byzantine Empire , Islamic Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, Ottoman Empire and British Empire with a distant monarch. The Sultanate of Egypt was a short lived protectorate of the United Kingdom from 1914 until 1922, when it became the Kingdom of Egypt and Sultan Fuad I changed his title to King. After the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 the monarchy was dissolved and Egypt became a republic. In

4000-631: The Goryeo dynasty with the Narye festival. Originally "solely religious or ritualistic, a secular component was added at the conclusion". Former courtly entertainments, such as jousting , often also survived in children's games. In some courts, such as those during the Byzantine Empire , the genders were segregated among the upper classes, so that "at least before the period of the Komnenoi " (1081–1185) men were separated from women at ceremonies where there

4100-873: The Heian period , Japanese emperors and their families developed an exquisitely refined court that played an important role in their culture. After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, a true court culture can be recognised in the entourage of the Ostrogoth Theodoric the Great and in the court of Charlemagne . In the Roman East, a brilliant court continued to surround the Byzantine emperors . In Western Europe , consolidation of power of local magnates and of kings in fixed administrative centres from

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4200-751: The Horn of Africa , the Kingdom of Aksum and later the Zagwe dynasty , Ethiopian Empire (1270–1974), and Aussa Sultanate all had royal courts. Various Somali Sultanates also existed, including the Adal Sultanate (led by the Walashma dynasty of the Ifat Sultanate ), Sultanate of Mogadishu , Ajuran Sultanate , Warsangali Sultanate, Geledi Sultanate , Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo . The kingship system has been an integral part of

4300-532: The Kingdom of Macedonia , developing a royal court that would later influence the courts of Hellenistic Greece and the Roman Empire . The Sasanian Empire adopting and developing the earlier court culture and customs of the Achaemenid Empire would also influence again the development of the complex court and court customs of the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire . The imperial court of

4400-907: The Mande members of the Tunkalemmu caste in Mali, the Bamum sultans of Cameroon , the Kanem shaykhs of Chad , the Hausa emirs of northern Nigeria , the inkosis of the Southern African Zulus and Xhosas , and the obas and baales of Yorubaland , amongst others, continue the pageantry and court lifestyle traditions once common to the continent. Court officials or office-bearers (one type of courtier ) derived their positions and retained their titles from their original duties within

4500-611: The Maya city states , for example, "spectacles often took place in large plazas in front of palaces; the crowds gathered either there or in designated places from which they could watch at a distance." Court entertainments also crossed cultures. For example, the durbar was introduced to India by the Mughals , and passed onto the British Empire , which then followed Indian tradition: "institutions, titles, customs, ceremonies by which

4600-833: The Neo-Assyrian Empire and Zhou dynasty . Two of the earliest titles referring to the concept of a courtier were likely the ša rēsi and mazzāz pāni of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In Ancient Egypt, there is a title translated as high steward or great overseer of the house. The royal courts influenced by the court of the Neo-Assyrian Empire such as those of the Median Empire and the Achaemenid Empire would also have identifiable developed courts with court appointments and other features associated with later courts. The imperial court of

4700-735: The Omayyad , the Fatimid and the Abbasid ) to become the largest, most culturally developed cities of their time. This drew talented people from all walks of life—such as musicians , singers , poets and scientists —to seek employment under the patronage of elite bureaucrats , emirs and Sultans at court. The other Caliphate was the Ottoman , which employed its court's culture to stabilize an empire inhabited by huge non-Islamic populations spanning three continents . Everything from Algeria to

4800-766: The aristocracy and the people. For example, the splendid 1595 Accession Day celebrations of Queen Elizabeth I offered tournaments and jousting and other events performed "not only before the assembled court, in all their finery, but also before thousands of Londoners eager for a good day's entertainment. Entry for the day's events at the Tiltyard in Whitehall was set at 12d ". Although most forms of entertainment have evolved and continued over time, some once-popular forms are no longer as acceptable. For example, during earlier centuries in Europe, watching or participating in

4900-858: The human voice or solely instrumental or some combination of the two. Whether the performance is given by vocalists or instrumentalists, the performers may be soloists or part of a small or large group, in turn entertaining an audience that might be individual, passing by, small or large. Singing is generally accompanied by instruments although some forms, notably a cappella and overtone singing , are unaccompanied. Modern concerts often use various special effects and other theatrics to accompany performances of singing and dancing. Games are played for entertainment – sometimes purely for recreation, sometimes for achievement or reward as well. They can be played alone, in teams, or online; by amateurs or by professionals. The players may have an audience of non-players, such as when people are entertained by watching

5000-548: The neologisms " edutainment " or " infotainment ". The psychology of entertainment as well as of learning has been applied to all these fields. Some education-entertainment is a serious attempt to combine the best features of the two. Some people are entertained by others' pain or the idea of their unhappiness ( schadenfreude ). An entertainment might go beyond gratification and produce some insight in its audience. Entertainment may skilfully consider universal philosophical questions such as: "What does it mean to be human?"; "What

5100-453: The nobility . Royal courts may have their seat in a designated place, several specific places, or be a mobile, itinerant court . In the largest courts, the royal households, many thousands of individuals constituted the court. These courtiers included the monarch or noble's camarilla and retinue , household, nobility, clergy , those with court appointments , bodyguards , and may also include emissaries from other kingdoms or visitors to

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5200-870: The "remarkable collapse of children's engagement with nature" has drawn criticism for its negative effects on imagination , adult cognition and psychological well-being . Banquets have been a venue for amusement , entertainment or pleasure since ancient times, continuing into the modern era. until the 21st century when they are still being used for many of their original purposes – to impress visitors, especially important ones; to show hospitality; as an occasion to showcase supporting entertainments such as music or dancing, or both. They were an integral part of court entertainments and helped entertainers develop their skills. They are also important components of celebrations such as coronations, weddings, birthdays civic or political achievements, military engagements or victories as well as religious obligations, one of

5300-413: The 19th century bamboo was used and in the 21st century poles can be made of carbon fibre . Other activities, such as walking on stilts , are still seen in circus performances in the 21st century. Gladiatorial combats, also known as "gladiatorial games", popular during Roman times, provide a good example of an activity that is a combination of sport, punishment, and entertainment. Changes to what

5400-604: The 20th century, performed music, once available only to those who could pay for the performers, has been available cheaply to individuals by the entertainment industry, which broadcasts it or pre-records it for sale. The wide variety of musical performances, whether or not they are artificially amplified , all provide entertainment irrespective of whether the performance is from soloists , choral or orchestral groups, or ensemble . Live performances use specialised venues, which might be small or large; indoors or outdoors; free or expensive. The audiences have different expectations of

5500-606: The 20th century, starting with the often criticised but nonetheless important work of G. Stanley Hall , who "promoted the link between the study of development and the 'new' laboratory psychology", and especially with the work of Jean Piaget , who "saw cognitive development as being analogous to biological development", it became understood that the psychological development of children occurs in stages and that their capacities differ from adults. Hence, stories and activities, whether in books, film, or video games were developed specifically for child audiences. Countries have responded to

5600-426: The Achaemenid Empire at Persepolis and Pasargadae is the earliest identifiable complex court with all of the definitive features of a royal court such as a household, court appointments , courtiers, and court ceremony. Though Alexander the Great had an entourage and the rudimentary elements of a court, it was not until after he conquered Persia that he took many of the more complex Achaemenid court customs back to

5700-646: The Burgundian court would write one of the seminal books on court etiquette, Les honneurs de la cour ( Honours of the Court ). Court life would reach its apogee of culture, complexity and etiquette at the courts of Versailles under Louis XIV of France and the Hofburg under the Habsburgs . As political executive functions are assumed by democratic or republican institutions, the function of noble courts

5800-654: The Byzantine Empire at Constantinople would eventually contain at least a thousand courtiers. The court's systems became prevalent in other courts such as those in the Balkan states, the Ottoman Empire , and Russia . Byzantinism is a term that was coined for this spread of the Byzantine system in the 19th century. The imperial courts of Chinese emperors , known as cháotíng ( 朝廷 ), were among

5900-741: The Chinese Cultural Revolution , for example, Revolutionary opera was sanctioned by the Communist party and World War I , the Great Depression and the Russian Revolution all affected entertainment. Relatively minor changes to the form and venue of an entertainment continue to come and go as they are affected by the period, fashion, culture, technology, and economics. For example, a story told in dramatic form can be presented in an open-air theatre,

6000-820: The Governor’s Award, the Educator’s Award, the Innovator Award, the Career Achievement Award and/or the Lifetime Achievement Award. The way in which the nominations were determined was through ballots mailed to membership mailing lists. After calculation by the event team, the top five in each category were then screened by seven individual panel committees, composed of producers, directors, casting directors , and media choreographers. The committee members then selected

6100-467: The appeal of entertainment to achieve their different goals. Sometimes entertainment can be a mixture for both. The importance and impact of entertainment is recognised by scholars and its increasing sophistication has influenced practices in other fields such as museology . Psychologists say the function of media entertainment is "the attainment of gratification ". No other results or measurable benefits are usually expected from it (except perhaps

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6200-528: The camera. Many of the holdings have found new homes at the libraries at Chapman University. the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and San Diego State University. Conversations are ongoing with the Billy Rose theater and Jerome Robbins dance collections at Lincoln Center, The Smithsonian and other archives to assure that all of DOF's "treasures" will have new homes. Entertainment industry This

6300-483: The comedy is a primary purpose. The meaning of the word "comedy" and the audience's expectations of it have changed over time and vary according to culture. Simple physical comedy such as slapstick is entertaining to a broad range of people of all ages. However, as cultures become more sophisticated, national nuances appear in the style and references so that what is amusing in one culture may be unintelligible in another. Live performances before an audience constitute

6400-422: The comedy is the sole purpose or used as a form of contrast in an otherwise serious piece. It is a valued contributor to many forms of entertainment, including in literature, theatre, opera, film and games. In royal courts, such as in the Byzantine court, and presumably, also in its wealthy households, " mimes were the focus of orchestrated humour, expected or obliged to make fun of all at court, not even excepting

6500-583: The complex relationship between entertainer and spectator: individuals may be either an entertainer or part of the audience, or they may swap roles even during the course of one entertainment. In the court at the Palace of Versailles , "thousands of courtiers, including men and women who inhabited its apartments, acted as both performers and spectators in daily rituals that reinforced the status hierarchy". Like court entertainment, royal occasions such as coronations and weddings provided opportunities to entertain both

6600-400: The course of three millennia ( c.  3150 BC to 31 BC), until it was conquered by the Roman Empire . In the same time period several kingdoms with their own royal courts flourished in the nearby Nubia region, with at least one of them, that of the so-called A-Group culture, apparently influencing the customs of Egypt itself. From the 6th to 19th centuries, Egypt was variously part of

6700-501: The court or royal household in the broadest definition. Entertainers and others may have been counted as part of the court. A royal household is the highest-ranking example of patronage . A regent or viceroy may hold court during the minority or absence of the hereditary ruler, and even an elected head of state may develop a court-like entourage of unofficial, personally-chosen advisers and "companions". The French word compagnon and its English derivation "companion" literally mean

6800-517: The court. Foreign princes and foreign nobility in exile may also seek refuge at a court. Near Eastern and Far Eastern courts often included the harem and concubines as well as eunuchs who fulfilled a variety of functions. At times, the harem was walled off and separate from the rest of the residence of the monarch. In Asia , concubines were often a more visible part of the court. Lower ranking servants and bodyguards were not properly called courtiers, though they might be included as part of

6900-472: The courtly household. With time, such duties often became archaic. However, titles survived involving the ghosts of arcane duties. These styles generally dated back to the days when a noble household had practical and mundane concerns as well as high politics and culture. Such court appointments each have their own histories. They might include but are not limited to: Earlier courts in medieval Western Europe were itinerant courts , but courts were often held in

7000-408: The desired effect of putting an end to me giving any more entertainments in the house. Court (royal) A royal court , often called simply a court when the royal context is clear, is an extended royal household in a monarchy , including all those who regularly attend on a monarch , or another central figure. Hence, the word court may also be applied to the coterie of a senior member of

7100-437: The emperor and members of the imperial family. This highly structured role of jester consisted of verbal humour, including teasing , jests, insult , ridicule, and obscenity and non-verbal humour such as slapstick and horseplay in the presence of an audience." In medieval times, all comic types – the buffoon , jester, hunchback , dwarf , jokester, were all "considered to be essentially of one comic type:

7200-565: The entertainment industry. Others have unique authors who offer a more personal, philosophical view of the world and the problems people face. Comics about superheroes such as Superman are of the first type. Examples of the second sort include the individual work over 50 years of Charles M. Schulz who produced a popular comic called Peanuts about the relationships among a cast of child characters; and Michael Leunig who entertains by producing whimsical cartoons that also incorporate social criticism . The Japanese Manga style differs from

7300-433: The final score in a sporting entertainment). This is in contrast to education (which is designed with the purpose of developing understanding or helping people to learn) and marketing (which aims to encourage people to purchase commercial products). However, the distinctions become blurred when education seeks to be more "entertaining" and entertainment or marketing seek to be more "educational". Such mixtures are often known by

7400-424: The fool", who while not necessarily funny, represented "the shortcomings of the individual". Shakespeare wrote seventeen comedies that incorporate many techniques still used by performers and writers of comedy – such as jokes , puns , parody, wit , observational humour , or the unexpected effect of irony . One-liner jokes and satire are also used to comedic effect in literature. In farce ,

7500-518: The grand residence Hampton Court Palace on the River Thames above London was where Thomas Wolsey held court as Catholic cardinal (built after the Italian ideal for a cardinal's palace) until his fall and its confiscation by Henry VIII . William III and Mary II also held court there, 1689–94. Though it is built round two main courts, the structure itself is no longer the seat of a court in

7600-428: The highest standards of achievement in choreography throughout the entertainment industry . Choreographers were nominated in eight different categories of choreography. These include feature film, short film , television special , episodic and variety show , fight choreography , commercials, and music videos. In addition to awards within each category, honorary awards were given by the event production team such as

7700-496: The largest and most complex of all. The Han dynasty , Western Jin dynasty , and Tang dynasty occupied the large palace complex at Weiyang Palace located near Chang'an , and the later Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty occupied the whole Forbidden City and other parts of Beijing , the present capital city of China . By the Sui dynasty , the functions of the imperial household and the imperial government were clearly divided. During

7800-536: The mid-13th century led to the creation of a distinct court culture that was the centre of intellectual and artistic patronage rivaling the abbots and bishops , in addition to its role as the apex of a rudimentary political bureaucracy that rivaled the courts of counts and dukes. The dynamics of hierarchy welded the court cultures together. Many early courts in Western Europe were itinerant courts that traveled from place to place. Local courts proliferated in

7900-610: The more centralised African societies for millennia. This is especially true in the West African sahel , where royal courts have been in existence since at least the era of the 9th century Takrur and Ghana empires . The ruler of the 13th century Mali empire , Mansa Musa , brought a large number of his courtiers with him on the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca . Today, the courts of the Ashanti nanas in modern Ghana ,

8000-633: The most famous being the Banqueting House, Whitehall in London. In modern times, banquets are available privately, or commercially in restaurants, sometimes combined with a dramatic performance in dinner theatres . Cooking by professional chefs has also become a form of entertainment as part of global competitions such as the Bocuse d'Or . Music is a supporting component of many kinds of entertainment and most kinds of performance. For example, it

8100-421: The nature of knowledge and was released worldwide. Novels give great scope for investigating these themes while they entertain their readers. An example of a creative work that considers philosophical questions so entertainingly that it has been presented in a very wide range of forms is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . Originally a radio comedy , this story became so popular that it has also appeared as

8200-641: The patronage of a great man, classically in ancient Rome, forms part of the system of "clientage" that is discussed under vassal . Individual rulers differed greatly in tastes and interests, as well as in political skills and in constitutional situations. Accordingly, some founded elaborate courts based on new palaces , only to have their successors retreat to remote castles or to practical administrative centers. Personal retreats might arise far away from official court centres. Etiquette and hierarchy flourish in highly structured court settings, and may leave conservative traces over generations. Most courts featured

8300-453: The performers as well as of their own role in the performance. For example, some audiences expect to listen silently and are entertained by the excellence of the music, its rendition or its interpretation. Other audiences of live performances are entertained by the ambience and the chance to participate. Even more listeners are entertained by pre-recorded music and listen privately. The instruments used in musical entertainment are either solely

8400-513: The pleasure of local and visiting dignitaries". Royal courts, such as the Korean one, also supported traditional dances. In Sudan, musical instruments such as the so-called "slit" or "talking" drums, once "part of the court orchestra of a powerful chief", had multiple purposes: they were used to make music; "speak" at ceremonies; mark community events; send long-distance messages; and call men to hunt or war. Courtly entertainments also demonstrate

8500-414: The punishment of criminals or social outcasts was an accepted and popular form of entertainment. Many forms of public humiliation also offered local entertainment in the past. Even capital punishment such as hanging and beheading , offered to the public as a warning, were also regarded partly as entertainment. Capital punishments that lasted longer, such as stoning and drawing and quartering , afforded

8600-501: The reduction in costs of books and an increasing literacy all served to enhance the mass appeal of reading. Furthermore, as fonts were standardised and texts became clearer, "reading ceased being a painful process of decipherment and became an act of pure pleasure". By the 16th century in Europe, the appeal of reading for entertainment was well established. Among literature's many genres are some designed, in whole or in part, purely for entertainment. Limericks , for example, use verse in

8700-487: The root of the current Spanish congress and senate . The courts of Valois Burgundy and the Kingdom of Portugal were particularly influential over the development of court culture and pageantry in Europe. The court of Philip the Good , Duke of Burgundy was considered one of the most splendid in Europe and would influence the development of court life later on for all of France and Europe. Later, Aliénor de Poitiers of

8800-403: The same place and to the same disposition in which we once found ourselves. quote from and commentary by Fischer (2003) The young Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) read chivalrous novels and wrote about the "rapture" that books provided. I became accustomed to reading [novels] and that small fault made me cool my desire and will to do other tasks. I thought nothing of spending many hours

8900-669: The sense of this article. As an example, ambassadors to the United Kingdom are still accredited to the Court of St. James's , and courtiers of the monarchy may still have offices in St James's Palace , London. The present monarch, however, holds court at Buckingham Palace , where dignitaries are received. Some former seats of power (see official residence ): All four major Caliphates had sophisticated courts ; this enabled Cordoba , Cairo and Baghdad (the respective seats of

9000-472: The sleeping of the monarch, called a levée . Orders of chivalry as honorific orders became an important part of court culture starting in the 15th century. They were the right of the monarch , as the fount of honour , to create and grant. The earliest developed courts were probably in the Akkadian Empire , Ancient Egypt , and Shang dynasty . However, there is evidence of courts as described in

9100-451: The special needs of children and the rise of digital entertainment by developing systems such as television content rating systems , to guide the public and the entertainment industry. In the 21st century, as with adult products, much entertainment is available for children on the internet for private use. This constitutes a significant change from earlier times. The amount of time expended by children indoors on screen-based entertainment and

9200-586: The splintered polities of medieval Europe and remained in early modern times in Germany and in Italy. Such courts became known for intrigue and power politics ; some also gained prominence as centres and collective patrons of art and culture . In medieval Spain ( Castile ), provincial courts were created. Minor noblemen and burguesie allied to create a system to oppose the monarchy on many policy issues. They were called "las Cortes de Castilla". These courts are

9300-436: The trappings of stage shows". Spectacles , competitions, races , and sports were once presented in this purpose-built arena as public entertainment. New stadia continue to be built to suit the ever more sophisticated requirements of global audiences. Imperial and royal courts have provided training grounds and support for professional entertainers, with different cultures using palaces, castles and forts in different ways. In

9400-437: The western approach in that it encompasses a wide range of genres and themes for a readership of all ages. Caricature uses a kind of graphic entertainment for purposes ranging from merely putting a smile on the viewer's face, to raising social awareness, to highlighting the moral characteristics of a person being caricatured. Comedy is both a genre of entertainment and a component of it, providing laughter and amusement, whether

9500-634: The winner (and often ties) in each category. For the last five years of the event (2000-'04) The Academy of Dance on Film (DOF) presented and was the beneficiary of these prestigious awards. Larry Billman founded the Academy in 1998. He was a former tapper who turned stage writer, researcher, and director. He created a non-profit organization catering to the interests of teachers, choreographers, researchers, students, and dance fans. Billman has been collecting dance related material for over thirty years through donations and his own purchases. Originally, it

9600-539: The word "entertain", including inter (among) + tenir (to hold) as derivations, giving translations of "to hold mutually" or "to hold intertwined" and "to engage, keep occupied, the attention , thoughts, or time (of a person)". It also provides words like "merry-making", "pleasure", and "delight", as well as "to receive as a guest and show hospitality to". It cites a 1490 usage by William Caxton . Entertainment can be distinguished from other activities such as education and marketing even though they have learned how to use

9700-424: The writing is to inform or instruct, reading is well known for its capacity to distract from everyday worries. Both stories and information have been passed on through the tradition of orality and oral traditions survive in the form of performance poetry for example. However, they have drastically declined. "Once literacy had arrived in strength, there was no return to the oral prerogative." The advent of printing,

9800-409: Was entertainment such as receptions and banquets. Court ceremonies, palace banquets and the spectacles associated with them, have been used not only to entertain but also to demonstrate wealth and power. Such events reinforce the relationship between ruler and ruled; between those with power and those without, serving to "dramatise the differences between ordinary families and that of the ruler". This

9900-648: Was housed in Hollywood, where the American Choreography Awards (ACA) team had an office and work space. To save the foundation's budget, it was moved to Billman's own home in Orange County, California, until it was officially dissolved in December, 2009. The goal of the archive was to bring attention to artists who created dance for the camera. During Billman’s research for his encyclopedia Film Choreographers and Dance Directors, he came to realize that he needed

10000-600: Was the case with "masked dance-dramas" in Korea, which "originated in conjunction with village shaman rituals and eventually became largely an entertainment form for commoners". Nautch dancers in the Mughal Empire performed in Indian courts and palaces. Another evolution, similar to that from courtly entertainment to common practice, was the transition from religious ritual to secular entertainment, such as happened during

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