In <[log in to unmask]> Doug
Lantry <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>
>Just a thought on entertainment: I was not entertained by the walking
>tour of the death camp at Dachau, but I was riveted and sobered.  And
>I doubt that the people who run places like that, and, say, the
>Holocaust Museum, seek to "charm" or "enchant" their audiences.

Not all "entertainment" is happiness and light...  No one ever walked
out of any decent production of Hamlet, Macbeth, or any movie by
Stephan King feeling "charmed or enchanted."  Yet I think that people
will agree that there is box office potential in each of the them.
Some people find entertaiment in roller coasters, death-metal rock &
roll, boxing, hunting, and a host of other activities that to the great
masses might be considered riviting and sobering.

>
>Wouldn't it be nice if edification was as sought after as
>entertainment?  It is, but only at participating outlets.

I think the problem is not the audience, but the courage of the
"paticipating outlets" to present material with is difficult,
frightening, sobering, and/or makes their visitors THINK about what is
being presented.  For example, it's easy to tell a "great man" type of
history....I can name dozens of historic sites who do it.  Much harder
is to show flawed heros, or even anti-heros...  Which frankly is more
uncomforatable boards of directors and donors to an institution IMHO
than audiences.

Mark Shanks, Education Director
Virginia's Explore Park
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"Cleo Eternum, Vita Brevis"