The argument has been made that popular entertainment is just a way to escape everyday life. Also, people have claimed that popular entertainment provides nothing of value. However, these arguments and claims could not be further from the truth. Popular entertainment offers value through its presentation of cultural ideas, its ability to train skills needed for the future, and the real experience it gives people even through an almost intangible world.
Popular entertainment, or technology, can provide users with cultural knowledge every time its used. It can provide knowledge and information that translate to reality. Watching television channels like the news provide current events and social networking can keep people up to date with the latest trends so they can then survive in the real world. Along with providing knowledge about cultural ideas, popular entertainment can train skills needed for the future. In today's world, "real world" experience can cut it anymore. Knowing how to do blue collar work isn't what will get a person far in life these days. Today's culture is rapidly switching to technology leaving anyone who does not, or cannot, make the switch behind. As people say, nerds run the world. This is why it is valuable to at least be familiar with technology in today's digital world. People have argued that technology and popular entertainment provides a way for people to evade important realities. However, what important realities cannot be gained through popular entertainment? If the argument is that it can be detrimental to relationships, technology and things like social networking prove to actually be helpful. How can someone expect to build a relationship with someone out of reasonable driving distance? Technology is the answer. People use Skype to communicate across the world, or other online social networks to talk to each other.
Whether it is used to gain knowledge of the culture and become more "in the loop" socially, acquire skills important for the future, or even build relationships, popular entertainment, or technology, is much more than just a useless way to waste time.
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