Entertaiment is a complex concept that can be interpreted in many ways. It can be seen as a private activity enjoyed by one person (choosing from a now enormous array of pre-recorded entertainment), or as the enjoyment of a shared meal or event, such as a banquet or wedding; or as a performance intended for a large audience. It can have serious or humorous intentions, as in ceremonies, religious festivals and satire; or it may have an aesthetic effect, as in paintings, architecture or music. According to Bates and Ferri, entertainment is understood objectively, includes communication between text and audience from an external stimulus, offers pleasure, requires an audience to exist, and occurs in a passive form.
